shipwreck
UK: ˈʃɪprek | US: ˈʃɪpˌrɛk
n. the destruction or sinking of a ship at sea
n. the remains of a destroyed ship
vt. to cause (a ship) to be destroyed or sunk
The word "shipwreck" combines "ship" (Old English scip, meaning "vessel") and "wreck" (Old English wræc, meaning "something driven by storm" or "ruin"). Originally, "wreck" referred to debris washed ashore after a maritime disaster. By the 15th century, the compound "shipwreck" emerged to describe both the event of a ship's destruction and its physical remnants. The term reflects the literal merging of two concepts central to seafaring dangers.
The storm caused a terrible shipwreck off the coast.
Divers explored the ancient shipwreck near the reef.
Pirates attempted to loot the cargo from the shipwreck.
The museum displayed artifacts recovered from a 17th-century shipwreck.
Poor navigation can easily shipwreck even the sturdiest vessel.