fumble

English

/ˈfʌmbəl/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To handle nervously or awkwardly.
  • (transitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something
  • (intransitive) To blunder uncertainly.
  • To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.
  • (transitive) To drop a ball or a baton etc. by accident.
  • To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.

Etymology

Derived from Low German fommeln derived from Dutch, Flemish fommelen derived from Proto-Indo-European *pal- (shake, swing, touch, feel).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*pal-

Gloss

shake, swing, touch, feel

Concept
Semantic Field

Motion

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Emoji
🤝

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms