Word of the Day

: May 4, 2007

pratfall

noun PRAT-fawl

What It Means

1 : a fall on the buttocks

2 : a humiliating mishap or blunder

pratfall in Context

It was amusing to watch the pratfalls of the slow-witted cartoon cat as he was continually outsmarted by the clever mouse.

Did You Know?

The human posterior has been given a number of designations over the centuries, some not acceptable in polite company. "Prat," a slang term with only slightly indecorous overtones, has been used in reference to the backside since the 16th century. It wasn't until the 1930s, however, that falling on one's prat gave rise to the term "pratfall." The word first cropped up in the lingo of comedy theater, where a pratfall is often part of a slapstick routine. It wasn't long before we gave the word its extended sense of "blunder." Now, with "prat" rarely used as a synonym of "derriere" anymore, "pratfall" is as apt to suggest getting a pie in the face as landing bang on one's behind.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.