Defalcate
/dɪˈfælk.eɪt/noun
To embezzle or misappropriate funds entrusted to one’s care.
Did you know?Defalcate comes from Latin roots meaning “to cut off,” because the original image was literally taking a piece away from an account—proof that bookkeeping has always had a dark side.
Etymological Timeline
Latin (classical)
Latin
defalcare
“to cut off or lop away”
Late Latin
Latin
defalcatus
“cut off; deducted”
Old French
Old French
defalquer
“to deduct, subtract”
14th–15th Century
Middle English
defalken
“to deduct or subtract from an amount”
16th Century
English
defalcate
“to embezzle or misappropriate funds”
Modern English
English
defalcate
“to embezzle money entrusted to one’s care”