Other forms: mishaps
A mishap is an unlucky accident, usually a small one. A slight mishap, without mishap, a series of mishaps.
The smallness matters: a mishap is a setback rather than a disaster, and calling something a mishap is a way of playing it down — which is why official statements like the word. Without mishap means everything went as planned. Note that mishap is mis- plus hap, chance, so it is literally bad luck; and that the same hap gives happy, happen and perhaps.
1nounmishapAn unlucky accident, usually a small one.
“Apart from a small mishap with the tent, the camping trip went smoothly.”
mishap is a small accident.
Middle English mishap is mis- plus hap, chance or luck. Happen, happy and perhaps come from the same hap, so a mishap is literally ill luck.
Middle English
mishap
English, today
mishap
From Middle English mishap, myshappe, myssehappe, equivalent to mis + hap.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA