From the ArcaMax Publishing, Vocabulary Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/vocabulary/s-565206-184769
contretemps \KAHN-truh-tahn\ (noun) plural contretemps \-tahnz\ - An
inopportune or embarrassing situation or event; a hitch.
"On the card nest to them was written, 'With my most humble apologies
for the contretemps of this afternoon. I hope I may be allowed to
invite you for dinner after an appropriate period of penance. Josh
Hillman.'" -- Judith Krantz, 'Scruples'
Contretemps comes from French, from contre, "against" (from Latin
contra) + temps, "time" (from Latin tempus).