avalanche: [18] Not surprisingly, avalanche originated in the Alps. The French dialect of Savoy, an area near the Italian border in the western Alps, had a term lavantse, apparently derived from a Vulgar Latin *labanca (whence Provençal lavanca). Through association with the verb avaler ‘descend’ (see DOWN), this underwent metathesis (transposition of l and v) to produce in the Romansh language of Switzerland avalantze, which was borrowed into French as avalanche.
avalanche (n.)
1763, from French avalanche (17c.), from Romansch (Swiss) avalantze "descent," altered (by metathesis of -l- and -v-, probably influenced by Old French avaler "to descend, go down") from Savoy dialect lavantse, from Provençal lavanca "avalanche," perhaps from a pre-Latin Alpine language (the suffix -anca suggests Ligurian). As a verb, from 1872.
双语例句
1. Khalil heard the thunder of an avalanche.
哈利勒听到了雪崩传来的轰隆声。
来自柯林斯例句
2. alpine villages destroyed in an avalanche
在一场雪崩中被摧毁的高山村庄
来自《权威词典》
3. They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.
他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. Headquarters was swamped by an avalanche of applications for battle assignments.
