gaffe

 
Pronunciation: /gaf/

noun

  • an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder: in my first few months at work I made some real gaffes his comments are a major diplomatic gaffe

Origin:

early 20th century: from French, literally 'boathook' (from Provençal gaf: see gaff1), used colloquially to mean 'blunder'