Etymology : Middle English embushen, from Middle French embuschier, from en in + busche stick of firewood
Pronunciation : 'am-"bush
Function : verb
Date : 14th century
1. act of hiding in order to make a surprise attack. hide in order to make a surprise attack. ambush\am"bush\ (ăm"b&oocr;sh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. ambushed ; p. pr. & vb. n. ambushing.] [oe. enbussen, enbushen, of. embushier, embuissier, f. embûcher, embusquer, fr. ll. imboscare; in + ll. boscus, buscus, a wood; akin to g. bush, e. bush. see:
ambuscade, bush.].
2. to station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy. by ambushed men behind their temple laid, we have the king of mexico betrayed.
3. to attack by ambush; to waylay.ambush \am"bush\ (ăm"b&oocr;sh), n. [f. embûche, fr. the verb. see:
ambush, v. t.].
4. a disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station. hence: unseen peril; a device to entrap; a snare. heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege or ambush from the deep.
5. a concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack by surprise. bold in close ambush, base in open field.
6. the troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; liers in wait. [obs.] the ambush arose quickly out of their place. viii. 19.
7. A disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station.
8. Hence: Unseen peril; a device to entrap; a snare.
9. A concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack by surprise.
10. The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; liers in wait.
11. To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
12. To attack by ambush; to waylay.
13. To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise; to lurk. the act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise wait in hiding to attack.
14. 1. If a group of people ambush their enemies, they attack them after hiding and waiting for them. The Guatemalan army says rebels ambushed and killed 10 patrolmen.
15. An ambush is an attack on someone by people who have been hiding and waiting for them. A policeman has been shot dead in an ambush.
16. If someone is lying in ambush, they are hiding and waiting for someone, usually to attack them. The gunmen, lying in ambush, opened fire, killing the driver. a sudden attack on someone by people who have been hiding and waiting for them, or the place where this happens (embuschier, from en + busche ).