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defalcation

[dee-fal-key-shuh n, -fawl-]
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noun Law.
  1. misappropriation of money or funds held by an official, trustee, or other fiduciary.
  2. the sum misappropriated.
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Origin of defalcation

1425–75; late Middle English: deduction from wages (< Middle French) < Medieval Latin dēfalcātiōn- (stem of dēfalcātiō) a taking away, equivalent to dēfalcāt(us) (see defalcate) + -iōn- -ion
Related formsnon·de·fal·ca·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for defalcation

Historical Examples

  • But nothing yet concerning the defalcation and disappearance of Angelo Puma.

    The Crimson Tide

    Robert W. Chambers

  • Evidently there had been a defalcation on rather a large scale.

    Miss Mehetabel's Son

    Thomas Bailey Aldrich

  • The rumor of Elijah's defalcation had not disturbed Seymour seriously.

    The Vision of Elijah Berl

    Frank Lewis Nason

  • And with all this there was a defalcation traceable to Hope Mills or the Eastmans.

    Hope Mills

    Amanda M. Douglas

  • The steward set it on fire to conceal the defalcation in the crop.

Word Origin and History for defalcation

n.

mid-15c., from Medieval Latin defalcationem (nominative defalcatio), noun of action from past participle stem of defalcare, from de- + Latin falx, falcem "sickle, scythe, pruning hook."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper