Forms: 8 biouac, bihovac, biovac, 9 bivuack, bivouack, (bivouake), bivouaque, 8– bivouac. [In Dictionaries since c. 1700, but hardly in use before the French War: a. F. bivouac, bivac, generally said to have been introduced during the Thirty Years’ War. It has with probability been referred to a dialectal (Swiss) Ger. beiwacht, according to Stalder, Versuch eines Schweizerischen Idiotikon (1812), II. 426, used in Aargau and Zürich to denote the patrol of citizens (Schaarwache) added (beigegeben) to assist the ordinary town watch by night at any time of special commotion. This remaining of a large body of men under arms all night explains the original sense of bivouac.]
1. Mil. Originally, a night-watch by a whole army under arms, to prevent surprise; now, a temporary encampment of troops in the field with only the accidental shelter of the place, without tents, etc.; also the place of such encampment.
1706. Phillips, Biouac or Bihovac, an extraordinary Guard perform’d by the whole Army, when … it … continues all night under Arms … to prevent Surprize, etc. To Raise the Biovac, is to return the Army to their Tents, or Huts, some time after break of Day.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Biouac, bivouac, biovac … is formed by corruption from the German weywacht, a double watch or guard; Trevoux.
1755. Johnson, Biovac, bihovac, bivouac [as in Phillips]. ‘Not in use.’
1772. Simes, Milit. Guide, Biovac, a night guard, performed by the whole army, when there is any danger from the enemy.
1811. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., VIII. 21. The bivouac which Hill quitted this morning appears to be an excellent situation for the cavalry to-morrow.
1813. Examiner, 7 June, 356/1. (transl. from French), The army had taken its bivouaques.
1850. Prescott, Peru, II. 151. Almagro, afraid of stumbling on the enemy’s bivouac.
1885. Times, 16 May, 7/1. Our troops recrossed to the left bank of the river Kushk and went into bivouac.
fig. 1839. Longf., Ps. Life, v. In the world’s broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life.
2. transf. An encampment for the night in the open air; a camping out.
1853. De Quincey, Sp. Mil. Nun, § 6. 11. Withered leaves, which furnished to Kate her very first bivouac.
1872. C. King, Mountain. Sierra Nev., iii. 49. Morning dawned brightly upon our bivouac among a cluster of dark firs.
