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Ambush vs Skulk - What's the difference?

ambush | skulk |

As nouns the difference between ambush and skulk

is that ambush is the act of concealing oneself and lying in wait to attack by surprise while skulk is a group of foxes.

As verbs the difference between ambush and skulk

is that ambush is to station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy while skulk is to conceal oneself; to hide.

ambush

English

Noun

(ambushes)
  • The act of concealing oneself and lying in wait to attack by surprise.
  • An attack launched from a concealed position.
  • * Milton
    • Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege / Or ambush from the deep.
  • The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; those who lie in wait.
  • * Bible, Josh. viii. 19
    • The ambush arose quickly out of their place.

    Derived terms

    * ambush marketing * ambush journalism

    Verb

    (es)
  • To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
  • * Dryden
    • By ambushed men behind their temple laid / We have the king of Mexico betrayed.
  • To attack by ambush; to waylay.

    • skulk

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A group of foxes.
    • (Wright)
  • One who skulks; a skulker.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • to conceal oneself; to hide
  • * Dryden
    • Discovered and defeated of your prey, / You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away.
  • * 1852 , Charles Dickens, Bleak House ,
    • Behind dingy blind and curtain, in upper story and garret, skulking more or less under false names, false hair, false titles, false jewellery, and false histories, a colony of brigands lie in their first sleep.
  • to sneak around, sneak about
  • * 1904 , Paul Laurence Dunbar,
    • Fully a dozen of the citizens had seen him hastening toward the woods and noted his skulking air [...]
  • to shirk; to avoid obligation