debauch

English

Etymology

1590s, from Middle French debaucher (“entice from work or duty”), from Old French desbaucher (“to lead astray”), from de- + bauch (“beam”), from Frankish balko, from Proto-Germanic *balkô, from Proto-Indo-European *bhelg- (“beam, plank”); latter origin of balk.

Evolution of sense unclear; may be literally “to shave/trim wood to make a beam” or may be “to leave/lure someone from a workshop”, Frankish balk perhaps also meaning “workshop”.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔːtʃ

Noun

debauch (plural debauches)

1. An act of debauchery.
2. An orgy.

Translations

An act of debauchery

Bulgarian: разврат (bg) French: débauche (fr) f.

Romanian: destrăbălare (ro)

An orgy

Bulgarian: оргия (bg)

Verb

debauch (third-person singular simple present debauches, present participle debauching, simple past and past participle debauched)

1. (transitive) to morally corrupt someone; to seduce
2. (transitive) to debase something

Translations

(transitive) to morally corrupt someone; to seduce

Bulgarian: покварявам (bg), развращавам (bg)

French: débaucher (fr)

(transitive) to debase something

Bulgarian: развалям, изопачавам

Derived terms

• debauchee
• debaucher
• debauchery
• debauchment

Related terms

• balk