havoc

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   widespread destruction, disorder, or confusion

   The storm caused havoc throughout the coastal town.

2. 2
   noun

   serious disruption or damage, especially in the phrase wreak havoc

   A software failure played havoc with the timetable.

From Middle English havok, havyk, from Old French havok in the phrase crier havok (“cry havoc”) a signal to soldiers to seize plunder, from Old French crier (“cry out, shout”) + havot (“pillaging, looting”), of obscure origin. Probably from a derivative of Old French *haf, hef (“hook”), from Frankish *haf, *habbjā, *happjā (“pruning-hook, scythe”), derived from Proto-Germanic *habjaną (“to take up, lift”), related to Old French havee (“handful”), Old French havet (“pruning-hook”), Old High German habba, heppa (“pruning-hook, scythe”), modern German Hippe (“billhook”). If so, then also relat...

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