bivouac

[ biv-oo-ak, biv-wak ]

/ ˈbɪv uˌæk, ˈbɪv wæk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bivouac 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.

Words nearby bivouac

bivane, bivariate, biventral, bivinyl, bivoltine, bivouac, bivvy, biwa, biweekly, biyearly, biysk

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

Without off-saddling, we bivouacked where we were, forming square.
Khartoum Campaign, 1898|Bennet Burleigh
They bivouacked two nights before on the north side of the bridge, in order to be ready to move on at daybreak.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 6)|Louis Creswicke
June 27th, the regiment marched three miles towards Santiago and bivouacked on the banks of a small creek.
The Colored Regulars in the United States Army|T. G. Steward
We bivouacked beside the road, and were moving at an early hour next morning.
A Kut Prisoner|H. C. W. Bishop

Sometimes we slept at the cottages of the natives, at others we bivouacked in the woods, or under the shelter of lofty rocks.
The Young Llanero|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for bivouacked

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

bivouac

noun

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

Words related to bivouac

Words nearby bivouac

Origin of bivouac

Examples from the Web for bivouacked

British Dictionary definitions for bivouacked

noun

verb -acs, -acking or -acked

Word Origin for bivouac