Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “debauch” come from?

Debauch comes from Middle French desbaucher, from Old French desbauchier, formed with the prefix des- from Latin dis- and ex, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European de and dwóh₁.

debauch (English): An individual act of debauchery; An orgy; To...

Definitions

  1. An individual act of debauchery; An orgy; To...

Ancestry of “debauch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchdesbaucherto entice someone away from his or her work or...
2Old Frenchdesbauchierto leave; to depart
3Frankishbalkōbeam, balk
4Proto-Germanicbalkôbeam, balk
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰelǵ-to balk, beam

Words derived from “debauch”

  • debauchery
  • debaucher
  • debauchment
  • debauchness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰelǵ- →