de·ba·cle (d-bäkl, -bkl, db-kl)
n.
1. A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout.
2. A total, often ludicrous failure.
3. The breaking up of ice in a river.
4. A violent flood.
[French débâcle, from débâcler, to unbar, from Old French desbacler : des-, de- + bacler, to bar (from Vulgar Latin *bacculre, from Latin baculum, rod; see bak- in Indo-European roots).] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
debacle
debacle
-
- Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:24 am
- Location: Stockholm, SVERIGE
Thanks, Katy ! I've never heard or seen «debacle» used to describe the breaking up of ice on a river in the spring, but it can be quite an impressive spectacle, indeed ! Interestingly enough, the Swedish word for when winter ice begins to lose its grip on waterways, «islossning» has much more positive connotations, e g, a breakthrough in negotiations....
Henri
Henri
曾记否,到中流击水,浪遏飞舟?
Return to “Good Word Suggestions”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 28 guests