guerrilla etymology

Etymology

• Spanish: guerrilla (> 1815 CE), diminutive of guerra "war" (> 13th c.)

Meaning

• A method of warfare conducted by irregular or unconventional military forces, typically against a larger and more conventional enemy.

Origin

The term "guerrilla" originated in the early 19th century during the Spanish Peninsular War (1808-1814), when Spanish irregular forces fought against the invading French armies. The Spanish word "guerrilla" is a diminutive of "guerra," meaning "war." The term was first used in English in the early 1810s to describe the Spanish resistance against the French.

Usage

The term "guerrilla" is often used to describe the tactics and strategies employed by paramilitary forces, insurgent groups, and terrorist organizations. Guerrilla warfare typically involves small-scale, hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and sabotage. Guerrilla forces often operate in rural areas or in densely populated urban environments.

Examples

• The Viet Cong used guerrilla warfare to fight against the United States and South Vietnam in the Vietnam War.
• The Irish Republican Army (IRA) used guerrilla warfare to fight for Irish independence from the United Kingdom.
• The Taliban uses guerrilla warfare to fight against the US-led coalition in Afghanistan.

Related Terms

• Insurgency
• Paramilitary
• Terrorism

guerrilla relate terms

• bellicose

  Etymology From Latin bellicosus warlike derived from bellum war cosus ending d

• kriegspiel

  Etymology From German Kriegsspiel war game Krieg war Spiel game Meaning

• guerilla

  Etymology The word guerrilla is derived from the Spanish word guerrilla which is t

• guerrilla

  Etymology Spanish guerrilla 1815 CE diminutive of guerra war 13th c Meani

• irregular

  Etymology Latin irregularis meaning not regular Ir not regular rule M

• insurgent

  Etymology From French insurgent from Latin insurgere to rise up rebel Insurger

• partisan

  Etymology The word partisan comes from the French word partisan which in turn comes

• jayhawker

  Etymology The term jayhawker is a compound word consisting of Jay A type of bird

• maquis

  Etymology French maquis Italian macchia Greek makhye Meaning Dense low growing v

• random

  Etymology random from Middle French randon meaning violent movement attack impetuo

• interpolate

  Etymology The word interpolate derives from the Latin interpolare which means to al

• protocol

  Etymology The word protocol comes from the Greek word protokollon which means the f