bivouac French · revision 15631

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1650, bivoie (Ménage)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bi.vwak/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bivouac''' ''m'' (plural bivouacs)^(Wiktionary)

+ ''Bivoie'' (1650), ''bivac'' and ''biwacht'' (Ménage); ''bivouac'' from 1690.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a Germanic word, probably brought by mercenaries serving in French armies in the 17th century.^(DHLF 1992) The Grand Robert, the Petit Robert, the GLLF and the Académie give it as [[bor|gsw|Biwacht|t=extra night patrol]], a patrol of citizens that reinforced the town watch in Aargau and Zürich;^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)^(Académie 9)^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) Bloch and Wartburg prefer [[nl|bijwacht|t=auxiliary guard]] (1651), as opposed to the main guard, and say the German and Swiss words are not attested;^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)^(FEW|15/1, 108a) Rey also mentions [[gml|biwacht]].^(DHLF 1992) In each, the first part is the preposition “by, beside” and the second is “watch, guard”, as in [[de|Wacht]].^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ From French come [[it|bivacco]], [[en|bivouac]] and [[de|Biwak]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It first meant a night watch kept in the open air by troops, as Ménage records it in 1650.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern sense, a temporary camp in the open, especially of troops for the night, dates from 1793, the year of the verb [[bivouaquer]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) In the 19th century it was extended to mountaineers', explorers' and travellers' night camps;^(Petit Robert 2007)^(BHVF) the Swiss Alpine Club's yearbook speaks of setting up “notre bivouac” at the foot of a rock wall in 1869.^(BHVF) It also names the place where such a camp is set up.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1650 – ''Bivoie'' “night watch” in Ménage.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1690 – The form ''bivouac''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1793 – A camp in the open, and the verb ''bivouaquer''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1869 – A mountaineers' camp.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A temporary [[m|en|encampment]] in the open air, especially of troops; a [[m|en|bivouac]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A night camp set up in the mountains or the wild.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(BHVF)

+ # The place where such a camp is set up.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' A night watch kept in the open.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bivouaquer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|bivouac]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}