em·branch·ment \ə̇mˈbranchmənt, em-, -raan-, -rain-, -rȧn-\noun (-s) Etymology: French embranchement, from (s')embrancher to branch out (from em- en- (I) + branche branch) + -ment — more at branch 1.: a branching off or out (as of a valley or a mountain range) 2.: branch, ramification