Bankrupcy

/ˈbæŋkrəpsi/ noun

Definition

Misspelling of 'bankruptcy'; the legal state of being unable to pay debts (this appears to be an incorrect spelling that should be 'bankruptcy').

Etymology

This is a variant or misspelling—'bankruptcy' itself comes from Old Italian 'banca rotta' meaning 'broken bank,' referring to merchants who broke their benches when bankrupt.

Kelly Says

The term 'banca rotta' literally meant a bankrupt merchant had their bench (banca) broken by creditors as a public shaming ritual in medieval Italy—debt was literally treated as a breaking point!

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