contretemps

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntrətɒ̃/

noun (plural /-tɒ̃z/)

  • a minor dispute or disagreement: she had occasional contretemps with her staff
  • an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence: the hotel had to deal with more than one contretemps before the end of the night

Origin:

late 17th century (originally as a fencing term, denoting a thrust made at an inopportune moment): French, originally 'motion out of time', from contre- 'against' + temps 'time'