Waterloo
/ˌwɔː.təˈluː/noun
A village in Belgium, famous as the site of Napoleon’s decisive defeat in 1815, or a crushing final defeat.
Did you know?Before becoming a metaphor for downfall, Waterloo was simply a Belgian place-name; its global fame came from Napoleon’s defeat there on 18 June 1815.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*watrą
“Water; the liquid element associated with rivers, rain, and wetlands”
Early Germanic
Germanic
*lauhaz
“A clearing or open place in a forest”
Medieval Period
Dutch
Waterloo
“A place-name traditionally interpreted as “water clearing,” though the exact development is debated”
1815
French/English
Waterloo
“The Belgian site of Napoleon Bonaparte’s decisive defeat”
19th Century
English
Waterloo
“A crushing or final defeat, transferred from the historical battle”