havoc

== English == === Alternative forms === havok, havock, hauocke (obsolete) === Etymology === 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 related to English heave and doublet of hatchet. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈhævək/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈhævək/, /ˈhævɪk/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhævək/, /ˈhævɪk/ === Noun === havoc (usually uncountable, plural havocs) Widespread devastation and destruction. Mayhem. ==== Usage notes ==== The noun havoc is most often used in the set phrase wreak havoc. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === havoc (third-person singular simple present havocs, present participle havocking, simple past and past participle havocked) To pillage. To cause havoc. ==== Usage notes ==== As with other verbs ending in vowel + -c, the gerund-participle is sometimes spelled havocing, and the preterite and past participle is sometimes spelled havoced; for citations using these spellings, see their respective entries. However, the spellings havocking and havocked are far more common. Compare panic, picnic. ==== Translations ==== === Interjection === havoc A cry in war as the signal for indiscriminate slaughter. === References ===