An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A great, often sudden calamity; a complete failure; a sudden violent change in the earth’s surface. → cataclysm.

Etymology (EN): From Gk. katastrophe “an overturning, ruin,” from katastrephein “to overturn, ruin” from kata “down” + strephein “to turn.”

Etymology (PE): Negunzâr, from negun “overturned, inverted” + -zâr suffix denoting profusion, abundance, as in kârzâr “a field of battle; combat” šurezâr “unfertile, salty ground; nitrous earth,” xoškzâr “arid land,” and so forth.