The plural of fallout: either the radioactive dust that falls after a nuclear explosion, or the serious consequences of an argument or conflict.
From fall (Old English feallan) + out (Old English ut). Originally meant literal particles falling, but gained the metaphorical sense of 'consequences' in the 20th century, especially after nuclear testing made the physical fallout concept widespread.
During the Cold War, 'fallout shelter' signs appeared on buildings across America because people genuinely feared radioactive dust would rain down. Today we use 'fallout' more often to mean the messy consequences of disagreements—the word itself fell out of its original meaning and into new life!
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