Defalcation

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: ËŒdÉ›fəɫˈkeɪʃən

Origin

Late 15th century, from Medieval Latin dēfalcātiōnem, accusative singular of dēfalcātiō, nominalization of dēfalcō, from Latin dē ("off") + falx ("sickle, scythe, pruning hook")

Online Etymology Dictionary

, from which also English falcate ("sickle-shaped").

Surface analysis is defalcate + -tion("the act of").

Noun

1. (legal) The act of cancelling part of a claim by deducting a smaller claim which the claimant owes to the defendant.
2. embezzlement
• 1931, w, Death Walks in Eastrepps Chapter 10/6, “Why should Eldridge commit murder?...There was only one possible motive—namely, he wished to avoid detection as James Selby of Anaconda Ltd. He had settled down in Estrepps. There were several persons in the town who had suffered from his defalcations....”

Related terms

• defalcate
• falcate