Bivouacking

/ˈbɪv.u.æk.ɪŋ/ verb

Definition

The present participle of bivouac; the act of camping temporarily in the open or setting up a temporary military camp.

Etymology

From the verb 'bivouac,' adding the '-ing' suffix. This gerund form became widely used in military writing during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Kelly Says

Modern mountaineers still use 'bivouacking' when climbing—sleeping on rock faces in lightweight emergency shelters called bivouac sacks—turning a Napoleonic military term into cutting-edge climbing vocabulary.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.