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debacle

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

debacle

Main Entry:: de·ba·cle
Pronunciation:: \dē-ˈbä-kəl, di-, -ˈba-; ÷ˈde-bə-kəl\
Variant(s):: also dé·bâ·cle \also dā-ˈbäk(l^ə)\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: French débâcle, from débâcler to clear, from Middle French desbacler, from des- de- + bacler to block, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *bacculare, from Latin baculum staff
Date:: 1802

1: a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river2: a violent disruption (as of an army) : rout3 a: a great disaster b: a complete failure : fiasco

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