Defalcate \De*fal"cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Defalcated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Defalcating}.] [LL. defalcatus, p. p. of defalcare to deduct, orig., to cut off with a sickle; L. de- + falx, falcis, a sickle. See {Falchion}.] To cut off; to take away or deduct a part of; -- used chiefly of money, accounts, rents, income, etc. To show what may be practicably and safely defalcated from them [the estimates]. --Burke.