Guerrilla
/ɡəˈrɪlə/noun
A member of an irregular military force that fights using surprise attacks and unconventional tactics.
Did you know?The term became widely known during the Peninsular War, when Spanish guerrillas used ambushes and hit-and-run attacks against Napoleon’s forces.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*werra
“Confusion, strife, or conflict”
Early Medieval Period
Old High German
werra
“Confusion, discord, or strife”
11th Century
Old French
guerre
“War; adopted from a Germanic source”
12th Century
Spanish
guerra
“War”
18th Century
Spanish
guerrilla
“Little war; a small-scale or irregular war”
Early 19th Century
English
guerrilla
“An irregular fighter, especially in resistance to an occupying army”