Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of killing from ambush: "Dry-gulching" refers to the specific act of murdering someone by attacking them from a concealed position or a surprise ambush.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The outlaw was known for the dry-gulching of travelers on the remote trail.
  • Historians described the event as a brutal case of dry-gulching.

Advanced Usage

• The term is highly specific and historical, primarily associated with the lawless frontier periods of American history, such as the "Wild West."
• It implies a cowardly or dishonorable method of killing, as the victim is taken by surprise and cannot defend themselves.

Variants and Related Words

• Dry-gulch (verb): To kill from ambush.
  • The bandits planned to dry-gulch the sheriff.
• Ambush (noun/verb): A more general term for a surprise attack from a concealed position.
• Bushwhacking (noun): A close synonym, often used interchangeably to mean attacking from a concealed position, especially in a wooded area.

Synonyms

• Ambush killing
• Bushwhacking (in the context of murder)
• Surprise murder

Related Phrases

• To be dry-gulched: To be killed via such an ambush.
  • The rumor was that the miner had been dry-gulched for his gold claim.

Noun

1. the act of killing from ambush