Bushwhack/bushwhackers

During the early 19th century, the original bushwhackers in America, and then later in Australia, were pioneers who literally ‘whacked bushes’ to establish easy routes through the wilderness or outback. Later, especially during the American Civil War, irregular, guerrilla fighters on both sides became known as bushwhackers for the way they ambushed enemy forces using the bush or wilderness as cover. By the late 19th century, bushwhack came to mean to kill by way of ambush or, in a figurative sense, to hi-jack or ambush ideas, plans, etc.