bivouac
bivouac — noun
- bivouacsingular
- bivouacsplural
1. a simple outdoor shelter that people make for sleeping in overnight when they do
a simple outdoor shelter that people make for sleeping in overnight when they do not have a proper tent, built from materials such as branches, tarpaulins, snow, or rocks — commonly used by hikers, climbers, and soldiers in the field
The hikers built a bivouac under a rocky overhang before the storm arrived.
collocation: build a bivouac
Soldiers were trained to construct a bivouac from branches and rain ponchos within ten minutes.
construct + bivouac + from [materials]
After the landslide blocked the path, the climbers made a bivouac between two large rocks for the night.
A basic bivouac needs only a waterproof sheet and some rope to keep you dry at night.
- shelter
much broader; a bivouac is a specific type of outdoor shelter
- encampment
generally larger and more organised than a bivouac
- lean-to
a specific roofed structure that may form part of a bivouac but is not synonymous
文法句型
a + bivouac
bivouac + of + [materials]
用法筆記
Commonly used in hiking, mountaineering, and military contexts where a full tent is not available or practical. Unlike a tent, a bivouac in this sense is usually improvised on the spot.
常見錯誤
2. a compact sleeping shelter made of ultralight cloth, roomy enough for a single a
a compact sleeping shelter made of ultralight cloth, roomy enough for a single adult or two people lying side by side, popular among hikers who need to minimise what they carry
Yuki's bivouac weighed only eight hundred grams, perfect for her solo hike through the Alps.
bivouac + weight specification — ultralight context
Diego pitched his bivouac between two pine trees and crawled in before the snow began to fall.
pitch + a + bivouac
A modern bivouac is made from waterproof fabric that packs down smaller than a loaf of bread.
The two-person bivouac was just big enough for Amara and her sleeping bag.
- bivvy bag
British colloquial term for the same item
- bivouac sack
slightly more technical name for the same lightweight shelter
- tent
much broader; a bivouac is a smaller, lighter type of tent
文法句型
a + bivouac
bivouac + for + [number] people
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes a manufactured piece of camping equipment, not an improvised shelter. It is also known as a bivvy bag or bivouac sack.
常見錯誤
bivouac — verb
- bivouacpresent simple I / you / we / they
- bivouacs3rd person singular
- bivouacking-ing form
- bivouackedpast simple
1. to sleep or spend the night in a simple outdoor shelter or a small lightweight t
to sleep or spend the night in a simple outdoor shelter or a small lightweight tent, especially during a hike, climb, or military operation
The team decided to bivouac on the ridge rather than risk the long descent after dark.
bivouac + on [location] — mountaineering context
Kwame and Elena bivouacked by the stream and cooked dinner over a small fire.
bivouacked + by [body of water]
The soldiers bivouacked in the forest clearing and posted guards through the night.
We can bivouac here for the night and continue towards the summit at sunrise.
- camp
broader; camping can involve a large tent and campsite, while bivouacking suggests minimal gear
- sleep rough
British English; similar implication of sleeping without proper shelter but with a stronger sense of homelessness
- pitch camp
more general; setting up a tent site rather than necessarily sleeping in minimal shelter
文法句型
bivouac + prepositional phrase of location
bivouac + for + [duration]
用法筆記
Always intransitive — you bivouac at a location, not something. Frequently used with a location phrase (by, on, in, near) or a duration phrase (for the night).