Debacle
/dəˈbɑː.kəl/noun
A sudden, disastrous failure or collapse.
Did you know?Debacle comes from French débâcle, originally meaning the breaking up of river ice, a vivid image of something suddenly shattering and rushing apart.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
dis- + baculum
“A debated earlier source sometimes linked to a breaking apart, though the modern word is securely traced through French débâcle rather than a direct classical compound.”
Old French
OF
desbacler / débâcler
“To unbar, unbolt, or let loose; later, to break up or clear away (especially ice).”
17th Century
French
débâcle
“The breaking up of ice on rivers; a sudden loosening or opening.”
19th Century
English
debacle
“A violent breakup or collapse, especially a disastrous defeat or failure.”
Modern English
English
debacle
“A sudden and utter failure or breakdown.”