Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Debacle \De*ba"cle\, n. [F. d['e]b[^a]cle, fr. d['e]b[^a]cler to
   unbar, break loose; pref. d['e]- (prob. = L. dis) + b[^a]cler
   to bolt, fr. L. baculum a stick.] (Geol.)
   A breaking or bursting forth; a violent rush or flood of
   waters which breaks down opposing barriers, and hurls forward
   and disperses blocks of stone and other d['e]bris.

Debacle \De*ba"cle\, n.
   A sudden breaking up or breaking loose; a violent dispersion
   or disruption; impetuous rush; outburst.

Source : WordNet®

debacle
     n 1: a sudden and violent collapse [syn: {fiasco}]
     2: flooding caused by a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river
        during the spring or summer
     3: a sound defeat [syn: {thrashing}, {walloping}, {drubbing}, {slaughter},
         {trouncing}, {whipping}]