maquis

American  

[mah-kee, ma-, ma-kee] / mɑˈki, mæ-, maˈki /

Or Maquis

noun

plural

maquis

1. the French underground movement, or Resistance, that combatted the Nazis in World War II.

2. Also called maquisard.  a member of this movement.

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maquis British  

/ mɑːˈkiː /

noun

1. shrubby mostly evergreen vegetation found in coastal regions of the Mediterranean: includes myrtles, heaths, arbutus, cork oak, and ilex

2. (often capital)

   1. the French underground movement that fought against the German occupying forces in World War II

   2. a member of this movement

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Etymology

Origin of maquis

1940–45; < French, special use of maquis, makis wild, bushy land < Italian (Corsican dial.) macchie (with French -is for -ie ), plural of macchia a thicket < Latin macula spot

Example Sentences

Pierre's training also helped the Vabre maquis to carry out a dramatic attack on a German supply train heading for Castres on 19 August 1944.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2021

The path was guarded at key points by the partisans, known as the maquis, after the French word for the southern scrubland where many such groups operated.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2021

Wild donkeys watched us impassively from the roadside; the surrounding meadows were dyed red and yellow where poppies and daisies rioted among maquis trees and gauzy tufts of wild fennel.

From Washington Post • Aug. 13, 2015

"Old Uncle Ho and his comrades would go back to the maquis," wrote Chaffard, rather than suffer a military defeat at American hands.

From Time Magazine Archive

As he thus spoke his funeral oration over the Barricini, Brandolaccio hastily guided Orso, Chilina, and Brusco, the dog, toward the Stazzona maquis.

From Colomba by Loyd, Lady Mary Sophia (Hely-Hutchinson)