#2: Bankrupt — The Broken Bench That Ended Businesses

The Why of Words

The Why of Words
#2: Bankrupt — The Broken Bench That Ended Businesses
Apr 07, 2026 Season 1 Episode 2
Discover the surprising origin of 'bankrupt' rooted in Renaissance Italy. The word comes from 'banca rotta'—literally a broken bench—stemming from the practice of smashing money changers' desks when they failed financially.

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