Ambuscado

sb. arch. 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. sb. emboscada ambuscade; but cf. the series of words in -ADO 2 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.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. iv. 84. Then dreames he of cutting Forraine throats, of Breaches, Ambuscados, Spanish Blades.

1598.  Barret, Theor. Warres, IV. iii. 110. In Ambuscados, which are to be done in places of couert; as woods, thickets, hollow wayes, or hils, he is to be carefull that the souldiers be silent and without noise, for not to be discouered.

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.

  † 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.