bivouac

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a temporary camp, especially one used by soldiers or mountaineers and offering little or no shelter

   The patrol established a bivouac in a hollow below the ridge.

2. 2
   verb

   to camp temporarily, usually outdoors and with minimal shelter

   The climbers had to bivouac on a narrow ledge overnight.

Simplified etymology

Bivouac came through French, probably from Swiss German Bîwacht “additional guard at night,” apparently referring to a citizens’ patrol supporting the ordinary town watch. Its original meaning was “a night watch by the whole army.” It is recorded in English from the early 18th century, though it is said to have been introduced during the Thirty Years’ War of 1618–48.

Borrowed from French bivouac, from Swiss German or Alemannic biwacht, 'additional watch or guard,' combining a form meaning 'by, additional' with Wacht, 'watch.' The military term shifted from a night watch kept outside fortifications to the improvised camp occupied by that watch, then broadened to any temporary open-air camp.

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External links

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