1950s; earliest use found in Mississippi Valley Historical Review. From French dialogue de sourds from dialogue + de + sourds (plural) deaf people collectively, use as noun of plural of surz deaf.
Definition of dialogue de sourds in US English:
dialogue de sourds
(USdialog de sourds)
nounˌdɪəlɒɡ də ˈsʊə
Dialogue of the deaf.
Origin
1950s; earliest use found in Mississippi Valley Historical Review. From French dialogue de sourds from dialogue + de + sourds (plural) deaf people collectively, use as noun of plural of surz deaf.