Dunkirk

[duhn-kurk]

noun

1. French Dunkerque. a seaport in N France: site of the evacuation of a British expeditionary force of over 330,000 men under German fire May 29–June 4, 1940.

2. a period of crisis or emergency when drastic measures must be enforced.

   The smaller nations were facing a financial Dunkirk.

3. a city in W New York, on Lake Erie.

Dunkirk

1. The scene of a remarkable, though ignominious, retreat by the British army in World War II. Dunkirk, a town on the northern coast of France, was the last refuge of the British during the fall of France, and several hundred naval and civilian vessels took the troops back to England in shifts over three days.

The term Dunkirk is sometimes used to signify a desperate retreat.

Example Sentences

Now Abdullah does the same, asking me to send photos showing my journey to the forest from a bus stop in Dunkirk.

From BBC

"There's no danger," said smuggler Abdullah last week, as he spoke to our undercover colleague and gestured towards a cluster of tents hidden deep within a forest outside the French port of Dunkirk.

From BBC

Monday's third stage is a 178km run to Dunkirk, where a mass bunch sprint is expected.

From BBC

One organisation that supports migrants in northern France has told BBC South East that it is seeing more lone asylum seeking children arriving in Dunkirk.

From BBC

The company has provided cinematography to clients such as Netflix and Amazon and served as a consultant on Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk.

From BBC