debacle English · revision 2465

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /deɪˈbɑː.kəl/, /dɛˈbɑː.kəl/ ''(UK)''; /dɪˈbɑ.kəl/, /dəˈbɑ.kəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|débâcle]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|fr|débâcler|t=to unbar, free]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|frm|desbacler]],^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) [[af|fr|des-|bacler|t1=off|t2=to bar]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline) [[der|la-vul|*bacculāre]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la|baculum|t=stick, rod]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The breaking up of ice in a river, and the violent rush of water that follows (1802).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In English the literal sense was first used in geology, to explain the landscapes left by the ice ages.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense “disaster, collapse” already existed in French,^(Etymonline) and English adopted it by 1848, for a sudden downfall or a confused rout.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) It is now used above all for a complete, often humiliating failure.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1802 – a breaking up of ice in a river; a violent rush of water.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1848 – a sudden downfall or rout; a disaster.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sudden, disastrous collapse or defeat; a rout.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A total and often ludicrous failure.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # The breaking up of ice in a river.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A violent flood.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bacillus]]

+ * [[imbecile]]

+ * [[fiasco]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The older spelling ''débâcle'', with accents, is now given only as a variant, if at all, in most major dictionaries.^(Wiktionary)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}