debacle Hear it!

debacle definition

de·ba·cle (di bä′kəl, -bak′əl; dā-)

noun

  1. a breaking up of ice in a river, etc.
  2. a rush of debris-filled waters
  3. an overwhelming defeat or rout
  4. a total, often ludicrous, collapse or failure

Etymology: Fr débâcle, breakup, overthrow < débâcler, to break up < dé-, de-, + bâcler, to bar, prob. < VL *bacculare < *bacculum, var. of L baculum, staff: see bacillus

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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