noun

bivouac

BIHV-oo-ak

Bivouac (noun) means a temporary outdoor camp made with little or no shelter, especially for a night or two. Example: “The climbers set up a bivouac on the ledge before the final push to the summit.”

noun

A temporary outdoor camp made with little or no shelter, especially for a night or two.

"The climbers set up a bivouac on the ledge before the final push to the summit."

"They spent a cold night in a makeshift bivouac halfway up the ridge."

verb

To camp outdoors for the night without proper tents or shelter.

"The soldiers bivouacked in the open field before dawn."

How to Use Bivouac

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rough, temporary camp — or the act of setting one up for the night.

Common pairings

set up a bivouac bivouac for the night

Word Forms

bivouacked past tense, bivouacs plural, bivouacs singular, bivouacks singular

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The climbers set up a _____ on the ledge before the final push to the summit.

Etymology

Borrowed from French bivouac, itself from a Swiss-German word meaning an extra night watch kept by a town guard.

Origin: French

Rhymes for bivouac

Kerouac

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “bivouac” mean?

The word “bivouac” means a temporary outdoor camp made with little or no shelter, especially for a night or two. In plain terms, a rough, temporary camp — or the act of setting one up for the night.

How do you pronounce “bivouac”?

“Bivouac” is pronounced BIHV-oo-ak (/ˈbɪv.u.æk/ in IPA).

How do you use “bivouac” in a sentence?

Here is “bivouac” used in a sentence: “The climbers set up a bivouac on the ledge before the final push to the summit.”

What part of speech is “bivouac”?

Depending on how it is used, “bivouac” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “bivouac” come from?

The word “bivouac” comes from French. Borrowed from French bivouac, itself from a Swiss-German word meaning an extra night watch kept by a town guard.

How many meanings does “bivouac” have?

“Bivouac” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a temporary outdoor camp made with little or no shelter, especially for a night or two.

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Words With French Origins