mandefald

Danish

Etymology

Old Norse mannfall, equivalent to mand (“man”) +‎ fald (“fall”)

Noun

mandefald n (singular definite mandefaldet, not used in plural form)

1. (uncountable) casualties, deaths in battle

   Mandefaldet var stort.

   Casualties were numerous.

2. (uncountable, by extension) absences of people
   • 2019, Håkan Nesser (tr. by unknown): Intrigo

     Det var dog ikke alle, der deltog i stormøderne. Mindst en tredjedel af beboerne plejede at udeblive -- ikke nødvendigvis den samme tredjedel og heller ikke nødvendigvis af de samme årsager. Men oftest skyldtes fraværet sygdom eller stoffer. Mandefaldet blev accepteret uden bemærkninger.

     However, not everyone participated in the general assemblies. At least a third of the inhabitants were usually absent -- not necessarily the same third, nor necessarily for the same reasons. But the absence was often due to sickness or drugs. The truancy was accepted with no comments.

   • '2016, Poul Funder Larsen: Iscenesætteren: Morten Hesseldahl om kultur og ledelse i en kreativ verden

     Det skal vise sig at være en rigtig god idé, men den stopper ikke mandefaldet i DR-ledelsen.

     This would turn out to be a very good idea, but it doesn't stop the sackings in the management of DR.