also: ふせぜい
noun
ambush; lying in wait
Military or tactical term for hiding and waiting to attack. Often used in historical or strategic contexts.
敵は伏勢を敷いて待ち構えていた。
The enemy had set up an ambush and was lying in wait.
伏勢に気づかずに進軍した。
They advanced without noticing the ambush.
Alternate spelling with okurigana, read ふせぜい. Less common than 伏勢.
Compound of 伏 (ふく, 'to lie hidden') and 勢 (ぜい, 'force, troops'). The reading ふせぜい is a less common variant using the kun'yomi of 伏.