Bivouac: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Bivouac noun. A rough camp with little or no tent, usually for a single night.
How to say it
BIV-oo-ak/ˈbɪvʊæk/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (BIV). Forms: bivouacs.
Bivouac in a sentence
Caught by darkness, we made a bivouac under an overhang and waited for dawn.
The climbers spent two bivouacs on the face before reaching the summit.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- camp
- encampment
- shelter
Where bivouac comes from
From French, probably from Swiss German Beiwacht, an extra night watch.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The climbers spent two _____ on the face before reaching the summit.
- bivouac
- nomad
- odyssey
Show the answer
bivouac: The climbers spent two bivouacs on the face before reaching the summit.