bushwhacks
Attacks from concealment
Bushwhacks means to clear a path through dense vegetation, or to travel through wild country where no trail exists: We bushwhacked through the undergrowth for hours.
In American history, to bushwhack meant to ambush from concealment in the brush—guerrilla fighters in the Civil War were called bushwhackers.
The ambush sense extends figuratively: The senator got bushwhacked by reporters outside the hearing.
Unexpected event causing astonishment
- attackAggressive act against another
- ambuscadeConcealed attack position
- waylayIntercept to confront
- lurkHide while observing
raiders · outlaws · concealment · trap · bandits · guerrilla · highway · robbery
Heavy broad-bladed knife
- undergrowthLow forest vegetation
- jungleDense tropical forest
- thicketDense shrub cluster
- brushBristled cleaning tool
clearing · path · vegetation · hacking · wilderness · dense · foliage · expedition
Sparsely populated wilderness areas
- off-trailNot following established paths
- scramblingMoving clumsily in haste
- navigationDetermining position and course
- pathlessHaving no trail
unmarked · rugged · remote · trekking · compass · orienteering · cross-country · exploration
surprise
Unexpected event causing astonishment
lurk · raiders · outlaws · concealment · trap · bandits · guerrilla · highway · robbery · assault
machete
Heavy broad-bladed knife
- undergrowthLow forest vegetation
- jungleDense tropical forest
- thicketDense shrub cluster
brush · clearing · path · vegetation · hacking · wilderness · dense · foliage · expedition · pioneer
backcountry
Sparsely populated wilderness areas
- off-trailNot following established paths
- scramblingMoving clumsily in haste
- navigationDetermining position and course
pathless · unmarked · rugged · remote · trekking · compass · orienteering · cross-country · exploration · adventure
- hiking trailsmountain trails, trailhead, coastal path, trail sign, forest paths
- backcountry routesfire roads, jeep trails, logging roads, forest roads, mule trails