bivouac
biv•ou
[[Fr < Ger dial. (Swiss) biwacht, night guard < OHG bi-, by, with + wahta, watchman < wahhen, watch, WAKE1]]
1 [Archaic] a night guard to avoid surprise attack
2 a temporary encampment (esp. of soldiers) in the open, with only tents or improvised shelter
–vi.
–acked',
–ack'ing to encamp in the open
