Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bivouac

/ˈbɪv.u.æk/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.26 in modern English

Syllables: bivouac
IPA: /ˈbɪv.u.æk/

14

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An encampment for the night, usually without tents or covering.

noun

Any temporary encampment.

noun

A temporary shelter constructed generally for a few nights.

noun

The watch of a whole army by night, when in danger of surprise or attack.

Dated

noun

A structure formed by migratory ants out of their own bodies to protect the queen and larvae.

verb

To set up camp.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

verb

To watch at night or be on guard, as a whole army.

Intransitive verb

verb

To encamp for the night without tents or covering.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"Townsend hare inhabit this area, particularly above the cabin, and a skier is likely to have one explode from a tree well and disappear into the whiteness as he skis by. Life is a constant bivouac for them -- they spend days huddled in tree wells during storms -- but I suspect they are as content and warm in their luxurious coats as we are in a cabin."
"Behold the Mansion reared by Dædal Jack! See the Malt stored in many a plethoric sack, In the proud cirque of Juan's bivouac!"
"The outing begins by Thursday noon, when the recreational vehicles start rumbling into town and their owners set up bivouacs."
"Army ants (genus Eciton) migrating and gathering in a bivouac."
"High in the rafters, a bivouac of ants swayed uneasily in the draught created by the shutting of the heavy, old, wooden door."
"We'll bivouac here tonight."

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French bivouac (earlier biouac, bivac), from Alemannic German Biiwacht (“reinforcements of guard or town watch”), from bii- + Wacht (“watch, guard”).

Word Breakdown

Root: Biiwacht

Usage

Inflected Forms

bivouacs (plural) bivouack (alternative) biouac (alternative, obsolete) bivoac (alternative, obsolete) bihovac (alternative, obsolete) bivy (alternative) bivvy (alternative) bivouacs (present, singular) bivouacks (present, singular) bivouacing (participle, present) bivouacking (participle, present) bivouacked (participle, past)

Derived Forms

bivouacer

Phrases

bivouac sack bivouac sheet

Synonyms

camp encampment cantonment campsite campground camping site camping ground camping area

Rhymes With

back black attack track lack jack pack cook back mac iraq crack hack

Questions

How do you pronounce bivouac?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɪv.u.æk/.
What does bivouac mean?: An encampment for the night, usually without tents or covering.
Where does bivouac come from?: Unadapted borrowing from French bivouac (earlier biouac, bivac), from Alemannic German Biiwacht (“reinforcements of guard or town watch”), from bii- + Wacht (“watch, guard”).

How to pronounce bivouac

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