#2: Bankrupt — The Broken Bench That Ended Businesses

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.---More from Sticky Note Podcasts:Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)stickynotepodcasts.com

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 7, 2026

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The word 'bankrupt' comes from broken Italian banker's benches in Renaissance times.

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#2: Bankrupt — The Broken Bench That Ended Businesses

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