ambush English · revision 360

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæm.bʊʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|embushen]],^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|embuschier|t=to hide, lay an ambush]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) [[af|fro|en-|busche|t1=in|t2=wood, bush]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) the second element probably [[der|frk|*busk|t=bush, woods]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) The idea is probably “to hide in the bush” or “to lure into the bush”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb (about 1300), to place troops in hiding in order to take an enemy by surprise.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline and Barnhart date the noun to the late 15th century, when it meant the concealed troops themselves,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) though the OED has a noun quotation from about 1380.^(OED 1989) By the 1570s it was used outside warfare, and by the 1590s figuratively.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) English earlier used ''ambushment'' (late 14th century) for the same idea.^(Etymonline) The verb's sense “to attack from a hidden position” is first recorded in 1631.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1300 – verb, to place troops in hiding.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1380 – noun, troops concealed to surprise an enemy.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – figurative use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1626 – verb, to lie in wait.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1631 – verb, to attack from an ambush.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of lying hidden in order to attack by surprise.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A surprise attack made from a hidden position.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The people lying in wait, or their hiding place.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A hidden danger or trap.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To attack from a hidden position.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To station in hiding for a surprise attack.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ambusher]]

+ * [[ambushment]]

+ * [[ambushlike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bush]]

+ * [[ambuscade]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Ambush'', ''ambuscade'', ''bushwhack'' and ''waylay'' all mean to attack suddenly from concealment.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}