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bivouac

[ biv-oo-ak, biv-wak ]
/ ˈbɪv uˌæk, ˈbɪv wæk /
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See synonyms for: bivouac / bivouacked / bivouacking on Thesaurus.com
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.
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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. 2023

Words related to bivouac

encampment, tent, campground, campsite, continue, endure, go on, hover, last, linger, live, persist, prevail, stand, stop, survive, wait, billet, camp, cantonment

How to use bivouac in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bivouac

bivouac
/ (ˈbɪvʊˌæk, ˈbɪvwæk) /
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
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