bivouac

[biv-oo-ak, biv-wak]

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noun

a military encampment made with tents or improvised shelters, usually without shelter or protection from enemy fire.

the place used for such an encampment.

verb (used without object), biv·ou·acked, biv·ou·ack·ing.

to rest or assemble in such an area; encamp.

Origin of bivouac

1700–10; < French < Swiss German bīwacht auxiliary patrol, equivalent to bī- by- + wacht patrol, watch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bivouacked

Historical Examples of bivouacked

Bivouacked on North-West side of hill, at a small water-hole.
Explorations in Australia
John Forrest
We marched to the vicinity of Elkton, where we bivouacked for the night.
Three Years in the Federal Cavalry
Willard Glazier
On the night of the 17th of October we bivouacked within a league of Ulm.
Tom Burke Of "Ours", Volume I (of II)
Charles James Lever
The 2d is bivouacked by a little stream, and I saw him fast asleep.
The Long Roll
Mary Johnston
Winder with the Stonewall Brigade bivouacked at Newtown, twelve miles north.
The Long Roll
Mary Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for bivouacked

bivouac

noun

a temporary encampment with few facilities, as used by soldiers, mountaineers, etc

verb -acs, -acking or -acked

(intr) to make such an encampment

Word Origin for bivouac

C18: from French bivuac, probably from Swiss German Beiwacht, literally: by + watch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bivouacked

bivouac

1702, from French bivouac (17c.), ultimately from Swiss/Alsatian biwacht "night guard," from bei- "double, additional" + wacht "guard" (see wait (v.)). Original meaning was an army that stayed up on night watch; sense of "outdoor camp" is 1853. Not a common word in English before the Napoleonic Wars. Italian bivacco is from French. As a verb, 1809, "to post troops in the night;" meaning "camp out of doors" is from 1814.