havocking

Variant of havoc

havoc definition

havoc (hav′ək, -äk′)

noun

great destruction and devastation, as that resulting from hurricanes, wars, etc.

Etymology: earlier esp. in phrase cry havoc (see below) < ME & Anglo-Fr havok < OFr havot, prob. < haver, to hook, take, hef, a hook < Frank *haf-, to seize: for IE base see have

transitive verb havocked -·ocked, havocking -·ock·ing

Obsolete to lay waste; devastate
havoc Idioms

cry havoc

  1. Archaic to give (an army) the signal for pillaging
  2. to warn of great, impending danger

play havoc with

to devastate; destroy; ruin

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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