degringolade

English

Alternative forms

• dégringolade

Etymology

From French dégringolade, from dégringoler (“to tumble down”), from Middle French desgringueler (comprising des- (“from”) + gringueler (“to tumble”)), from Middle Dutch crinkelen (“to make curl”), crinc or cring (“ring, circle”) (related to English crinkle and crank).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /deɪˌgræŋ.goʊˈlɑːd/

Noun

degringolade (plural degringolades)

1. A rapid decline or deterioration; a tumble.
   • 1995, Peter Brooks, The melodramatic imagination^[1], ISBN 9780300065534, page 73:

     The dégringolade of Kitty Bell is forever linked to the name of Marie Dorval, the actress (and Vigny's mistress) form whom the play was written.