bushwhack

[ boo sh-hwak, -wak ]
/ ˈbʊʃˌʰwæk, -ˌwæk /

verb (used without object)

to make one's way through woods by cutting at undergrowth, branches, etc.
to travel through woods.
to pull a boat upstream from on board by grasping bushes, rocks, etc., on the shore.
to fight as a bushwhacker or guerrilla in the bush.

verb (used with object)

to fight as a bushwhacker; ambush.
to defeat, especially by surprise or in an underhanded way: They bushwhacked our high school team when they used college players.

Origin of bushwhack

1830–40, Americanism; back formation from bushwhacker

Definition for bushwhacking (2 of 2)

bushwhacker
[ boo sh-hwak-er, -wak-er ]
/ ˈbʊʃˌʰwæk ər, -ˌwæk ər /

noun

a person or thing that bushwhacks.
(in the American Civil War) a guerrilla, especially a Confederate.
any guerrilla or outlaw.
Australian Slang. an unsophisticated person; hick.

Origin of bushwhacker

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10; bush1 + whacker

OTHER WORDS FROM bushwhacker

bush·whack·ing, noun

Example sentences from the Web for bushwhacking

British Dictionary definitions for bushwhacking (1 of 2)

bushwhack
/ (ˈbʊʃˌwæk) /

verb

(tr) US, Canadian and Australian to ambush
(intr) US, Canadian and Australian to cut or beat one's way through thick woods
(intr) US, Canadian and Australian to range or move around in woods or the bush
(intr) US and Canadian to fight as a guerrilla in wild or uncivilized regions
(intr) NZ to work in the bush, esp at timber felling

British Dictionary definitions for bushwhacking (2 of 2)

bushwhacker
/ (ˈbʊʃˌwækə) /

noun

US, Canadian and Australian a person who travels around or lives in thinly populated woodlands
Australian informal an unsophisticated person; boor
a Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War
US any guerrilla
NZ a person who works in the bush, esp at timber felling