noun

ambulance

ambulance

Call an ambulance quickly!

Call an ambulance quickly!

The ambulance arrived within minutes.

The ambulance arrived within minutes.

((countable)) a vehicle for taking ill or injured people to hospital Call an ambulance quickly!

Synonyms: emergency vehicle, paramedic vehicle

From French '(hôpital) ambulant' meaning 'walking (hospital)', from Latin 'ambulare' 'to walk'. Originally a mobile field hospital.

The word 'ambulance' has 'amble' in it, which means 'to walk'. Think of a 'walking' hospital that comes to you.

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