" breaking ranks "

[Verb]  | "break" | \ ˈbrāk \

1: to separate into parts with suddenness or violence

2: to cause (a bone) to separate into two or more pieces : fracture

3: to fracture a bone of (a bodily part)

Origin: before 12th century ;

 Middle English breken, going back to Old English brecan, going back to Germanic *brekan- (whence also Old Saxon brekan "to violently separate, shatter," Old High German brehhan, Gothic brikan), going back to Indo-European *bhreg- "violently separate," whence also, with varying ablaut grades, Latin frangere (perfect frēgī) "to break, shatter" and perhaps Old Irish braigid (perfect ro-bebraig) "(s/he) farts, breaks wind";

  * Note : Regarding the vowel of frangere see: the note at {fragrant|fragrant}.;