English

Noun

bushment ‎(plural bushments)

1. (obsolete) An ambush.
   • 1903, A. W. Pollard (ed.), Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory (1485) , volume II, Bk. XIX, chapter III:

     And by the way Sir Meliagrance laid in an embushment the best archers that he might get in his country, to the number of thirty, to await upon Sir Launcelot, charging them that if they saw such a manner of knight come by the way upon a white horse, that in any wise they slay his horse, but in no manner of wise have not ado with him bodily, […].

     • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter Tercium, in Le Morte Darthur, book XIX:

     And by the waye sire Mellyagraunce layd in an enbusshement the best archers that he myghte gete in his coūtrey to the nombre of a thyrtty to awayte vpon sir Launcelot chargyng them that yf they sawe suche a manere of knyghte come by the way vpon a whyte hors that in ony wyse they slee his hors / but in no manere of wyse haue not adoo with hym bodyly

2. (obsolete) The troops concealed in an ambush.
3. (obsolete) A surprise party; a company of soldiers secretly deployed.
   • c.1541, The Chronicle of Calais, John Gough Nichols, Camden Society No. 35, London 1846:

     The first day of August a bushement of Frenchemen came to the cawsey but a myle and halfe out of Caleys, where they brenned howses, toke many men prisonars, droffe away horses […].