ambush

Meaning

Noun

1. The act of concealing oneself and lying in wait to attack by surprise.
2. An attack launched from a concealed position.
3. The concealed position or state from which a surprise attack is launched.
4. The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; those who lie in wait.

Verb

1. To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
2. To attack by ambush; to waylay.

Synonyms

ambuscade

waylay

lie in wait

lurk

trap

🪤

lying in wait

intercept

attack

👊

assault

bushwhack

incubation

watch

⌚

block the way

lie in ambush

still-hunt

lurking-place

hiding

concealment

scupper

prowl

pry

rob

shoot

skulk

snipe

snoop

stalk

stooping

accost

break faith with

treachery

treason

trick

troops in ambush

wait

come upon

keep out of sight

lie in wait for

lie low

meet the enemy

pit viper

an assault by surprise

dry-gulching

lurking place

troops lying in wait

bascinet

temporizing

betray

betrayal

block

catch

covert

crouching

deception

ensnare

flag down

fraud

hail

helmet

hiding place

hold up

landmine

lasso

lurking

mine

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæm.bʊʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: enbuschen

Cognate with Middle French: embusche

In summary

From Middle English enbuschen, from Old French enbuscier, anbuchier (verb) (whence Middle French embusche (noun)), from Old French en- + Vulgar Latin boscus (“wood”), from Frankish *busk (“bush”), from Proto-Germanic *buskaz (“bush, heavy stick”). Compare ambuscade. The change to am- from earlier forms in en- is unexplained. More at bush.