shipwreck

Etymology

From Middle English schip-wracke, from Old English sċipwræc (“jetsam”), equivalent to ship + wrack. Cognate with Scots schip-wrak (“to shipwreck”, verb), Swedish skeppsvrak (“shipwreck”). Modern form is due to influence from wreck.

noun

1. A ship that has sunk or run aground so that it is no longer seaworthy.
   heaven will drive shipwrecks ashore to make us all rich 1670, John Dryden, William D'Avenant, The Tempest
2. (countable, uncountable) An event where a ship sinks or runs aground.
   they made the coast of Cochin China, and the tempests, which rose at the same time, threatened them more than once with shipwreck 1688, John Dryden, The Life of St Francis Xavier
3. (figurative) destruction; ruin; irretrievable loss
   It was upon an Indian bill that the late ministry had made shipwreck. 1879, John Morley, Burke

verb

1. To wreck a boat through a collision or mishap.