ambuscado, n. arch.
(æmbəˈskeɪdəʊ)
Pl. -os, earlier -oes, -o's.
[An affected refashioning of ambuscade after Sp. Here Englishmen may have confused the Sp. pa. pple. emboscado ambushed, in estar emboscado to lie in ambush, with the fem. n. emboscada ambuscade; but cf. the series of words in -ado2 for Fr. -ade, Sp. -ada. Much commoner than ambuscade in 17th c., but eventually displaced by it, and now only an archaic by-form.]
1. = ambuscade 1, ambush 1.
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. iv. 84 Then dreames he of cutting Forraine throats, of Breaches, Ambuscados, Spanish Blades. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres iv. iii. 110 Ambuscados..are to be done in places of couert; as woods, thickets, etc. 1607 Chapman All Fooles Plays 1873 I. 141 To lye in Ambuscado to surprize him. 1650 Baxter Saints' Rest (1662) iv. iii. 632 In vain doth the Enemy lay his Ambuscado's. 1755 Gentl. Mag. XXV. 132 He talk'd; and many a tale he told Of battles, and of ambuscadoes. 1819 J. Hogg Flodden Field, Till some English, like tornado, Rushed from deepest ambuscado. |
† 2. A force (pl. troops) lying in ambush; = ambuscade 2, ambush 2. Obs.
| 1598 Barret Theor. Warres, Gloss., Ambuscado, a Spanish word, and signifieth any troupe or company of soldiers either foot or horse, lodged secretly in some couert, as in woods, hollow wayes, behind bankes, or such like; to entrappe the enemy secretly attending his comming. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks vi. (1621) 72 Saladin..with certaine ambuscadoes charged the rereward. 1726 Cavallier Mem. iii. 224 My Ambuscadoes and Troopers fired at them. |
3. fig.
| 1640 Brome Sparagus Gard. iv. v. 185 Had you your ambuscado for me? 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. II. col. 284 The judicious reader may perceive such a reserve, tho it lay in ambuscado. |