Hyphenation
de·bauchSynonyms
abuse,
bastardize,
bestialize,
betray,
brutalize,
debase,
defile,
deflower,
demoralize,
fornicate,
fraternize,
go bad,
go to hell,
intrigue,
inveiglePronunciation
Etymology
[ di-'boch, -'bäch, dE- ] (transitive verb.) 1595. 1590s, from Middle French debaucher (“entice from work or duty”), from Old French desbaucher (“to lead astray”), from de- + bauch (“beam”), from Frankish balk,“” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001 from Proto-Germanic *balkan-, Proto-Germanic *belkan- (“beam, plank, ridge”), 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”.