debauch

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to corrupt morally or lead into excess; a bout of indulgence

   He feared the city would debauch his innocent nephew.

Simplified etymology

Debauch entered English in the late 16th century from French débaucher, “turn away from one’s duty” or “entice away from a master’s service.” Its deeper origin is uncertain, though it may derive from bauche “place of work,” with the original idea of drawing someone away from the workshop.

From Middle French débaucher ('to entice away from work or duty'), of uncertain earlier origin; perhaps from Old French desbaucher, from des- ('away') plus bauch ('beam, workshop'), the notion being 'to lure away from one's workbench'.

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