- avalanche
- 1771, from Fr. avalanche, from Romansch (Swiss) avalantze "descent," altered (by metathesis of -l- and -v-, probably influenced by O.Fr. avaler "to descend, go down") from Savoy dial. lavantse, from Prov. lavanca "avalanche," perhaps from a pre-L. Alpine language (the suffix -anca suggests Ligurian).