maquis
or Ma·quis
- the French underground movement, or Resistance, that combatted the Nazis in World War II.
- Also called maquisard. a member of this movement.
Origin of maquis
maqui
- an evergreen shrub, Aristotelia chilensis, of Chile, having toothed, oblong leaves, greenish-white flowers, and purple berries, grown as an ornamental in S California.
Origin of maqui
Examples from the Web for maquis
Historical Examples of maquis
"My future sister-in-law doesn't like the maquis," laughed Colomba.
ColumbaProsper Merimee
You must get on his back, and come with me to the Stazzona maquis.
ColumbaProsper Merimee
A dog ran out of the maquis, and when the girl called out "Brusco!"
ColumbaProsper Merimee
I had a guide with me, for fear I should lose my way in the maquis.
The Corsican BrothersAlexandre Dumas
The Maquis took advantage of the silence which followed Vincent's criticism to rise from table.
Pelham, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
maquis
- shrubby mostly evergreen vegetation found in coastal regions of the Mediterranean: includes myrtles, heaths, arbutus, cork oak, and ilex
- (often capital)
- the French underground movement that fought against the German occupying forces in World War II
- a member of this movement
Word Origin for maquis
Word Origin and History for maquis
1858, from French maquis "undergrowth, shrub," especially in reference to the dense scrub of certain Mediterranean coastal regions, long the haunts of outlaws and fugitives, from Corsican Italian macchia "spot," from Latin macula "spot, stain;" the landscapes so called from their mottled appearance. Used figuratively of French resistance in World War II (1943). A member is a maquisard.