stampede
UK: stæmˈpiːd | US: stæmˈpiːd
n. a sudden, panicked rush of a group of animals or people
vi. to flee or charge in a sudden, uncontrolled mass
stampede = stamp<to trample> + ede<noun suffix>
- stamp<to trample>: From Spanish estampida (crash, uproar), derived from estampar (to stamp, trample).
- ede<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns, often indicating an action or result (similar to -ade in "parade").
Etymology Origin:
The word stampede entered English in the early 19th century via American Spanish (estampida), originally describing the chaotic flight of cattle. It combines the idea of forceful trampling (stamp) with a suffix denoting collective action (-ede). The term later expanded to describe any sudden, disorderly mass movement, reflecting its vivid imagery of panic and momentum.
The loud noise caused a stampede of wild horses across the plain.
Shoppers stampeded into the store during the Black Friday sale.
Rumors of a fire triggered a stampede toward the exits.
The herd stampeded when startled by the thunder.
Police struggled to control the stampede of fans rushing the stage.