/day bah"keuhl, -bak"euhl, deuh-/ , n.
1. a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout: The revolution ended in a debacle.
2. a complete collapse or failure.
3. a breaking up of ice in a river. Cf. embacle .
4. a violent rush of waters or ice.
[ 1795-1805; débâcle, deriv. of débâcler to unbar, clear, equiv. to dé- DIS- 1 + bâcler to bar baculum stick, rod ]
Syn. 2. disaster, ruin, fiasco, catastrophe, calamity.