floundern.¹

Brit.

/ˈflaʊndə/, U.S.

/ˈflaʊndər/

Forms: Also Middle English floundre, flownder, flowndre, flondyre, 1600s flunder.

Etymology: The phonology seems to show that the immediate source is Anglo-Norman floundre (14th cent., Black Bk. Admir. II. 102) = Old French flondre (still current in Normandy); apparently of Scandinavian origin: compare Old Norse flyðra ( < *flunþrjôn-), Middle Swedish, Swedish, Norwegian flundra, Danish flynder; modern German has flunder, but this is given by Gesner in 16th cent. as only an English name (Kluge). The Middle High German vluoder of the same meaning is related by ablaut to flathe n., and cannot be directly connected with flounder; but the latter may possibly be from a nasalized form of the same root.

1. A small flatfish, Pleuronectes Flesus. In the U.S. applied to various other species of flatfish. Proverb: as flat as a flounder.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > seafood > [noun] > fish > plaice, flounder, or sole

sole1347

floundera1450

plaicec1450

tongue-fish1655

tonguea1825

lemon dab1835

lemon sole1890

the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > order Pleuronectiformes (flat-fish) > [noun] > family Pleuronectidae > member of genus Platichthyes (flounder)

flukea700

buttc1300

floundera1450

suanta1609

salmon flounder1815

Monterey halibut1882

the world > space > shape > condition of being broad in relation to thickness > broad in relation to thickness [phrase]

(as) flat as a pancake1611

as flat as a flounder1856

a1450 Fysshynge wyth Angle (1883) 30 The flounder is an holsom fisshe.

1508 Bk. Keruynge (de Worde) sig. B.iv^v Base flounders sole.

1627 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman (rev. ed.) xvii. sig. Hh2^v The Eele and Flounder are two greedy Fish and byte at the red worme.

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 174 Fish..that continually crawl at the bottom; such as the eel and the flounder.

1828 T. Hood Stanzas to T. Woodgate in Lit. Souvenir IV. 166 Or are you where the flounders keep, Some dozen briny fathoms deep.

1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. vii. 77 You came in upon four of us down as flat as flounders.

2. Something resembling this fish.

a. dialect. = fluke n.¹ 2.

ΚΠ

1853 W. D. Cooper Gloss. Provincialisms Sussex (ed. 2) 45 Flounders, animals found in the livers of rotten sheep, called in Somerset, flooks.

1883 W. H. Cope Gloss. Hampshire Words

b. (See quot. 1874.)

1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 889/2 Flounder, a slicking-tool whose edge is used to stretch leather for a boot front in a blocking or crimping board.

1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) III. 100 After this, the fronts are regularly placed on a block, being forced into position by an instrument called the flounder, and tacked to their place.

c. A drowned corpse.

1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang Flounder.

Compounds

C1. General attributive.

flounder-fishery n.

1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 20 Sept. 2/1 The flounder fishery is looking up again.

C2.

flounder-lantern n. a dialect name of the common flounder.

flounder-man n. a hawker of flounders.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of provisions > seller of fish or seafood

oyster-monger1321

rippier1384

fishera1400

pannierman1419

oyster sellera1425

fish-sellerc1440

pessonera1450

fishmonger1464

pikemonger1464

palingman1475

fish-man1540

jowter1550

mussel-mongera1625

flounder-man1700

periwinkler1837

fish-hawker1866

fish-salesman1868

piscitarian1880

fish-cadger1889

cod walloper1915

1700 W. Congreve Way of World v. i. 77 Hawkers, with Voices more Licentious than the loud Flounder-man's.

flounder-mouth n. a mouth like a flounder's, a large mouth.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > mouth > [noun] > types of

tutel?c1225

oven mouthc1425

plaice-moutha1569

pouch-mouth?1570

flop-mouth1604

flap-mouth1631

out-mouth1668

flounder-mouth1672

sparrow-mouth1673

splay-mouth1693

smoke-holea1704

screw mouth1707

spout mouth1736

beak-mouth1921

satchel-mouth1933

motormouth1976

1672–95 Brickmaker's Lament. in Roxburghe Ballads II. 40 The cryer he bawl'd, And there with his flounder-mouth loudly he yaul'd.

flounder-mouthed adj.

ΘΠ

the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > [adjective] > boastful

boastyc1300

bragc1315

boastfulc1380

great-moutheda1425

boggishc1440

avauntinga1513

windy1513

blazing1549

thrasonical1564

vauntful1590

vousty1596

braggadocian1599

self-boasting1599

braggart1604

braggartly?1611

braggadocio1615

braggeda1616

ampullous1622

rodomontado1645

vapouring1649

thrasonic1657

rodomontade1660

flounder-mouthed1663

fanfaron1670

vaunty1724

boastivea1763

Falstaffian1809

bounceable1831

jactant1839

braggadocious1853

blow-hard1855

loud-mouthed1867

flannel-mouthed1884

bull-mouthed1896

poppy-show1896

Tartarin1903

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > loud or resonant > having loud voice

routing1567

full-mouthed1594

deep-moutheda1616

full-mouth1624

well-lunged1642

flounder-mouthed1663

bull-voiced1837

loud-voiced1850

shoutya1859

stentorian1875

trumpet-tongued1880

bull-throated1888

trumpet-mouthed1895

bull-mouthed1896

trumpet-voiced1902

1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. iv. vi. 47 She..rails at me like a Flounder-mouth'd Fish-woman.

1724 M. Davys Reformed Coquet (1752) 110 You great Flounder-mouth'd Sea-calf.

flounder's-head n. (also flounder's-head whale) a bottle-nosed whale.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > order Cetacea (whales) > suborder Odontoceti > [noun] > family Ziphiidae > genus Hyperoodon (bottle-nose)

bottle-head1670

bottlenose1697

bottle-nosed whale1709

flounder's-head1717

hyperoödon1843

dœgling1866

1717 in S. Dale Hist. Harwich Tab. xiv The Bottle-Head or Flounders-Head-Whale.

Derivatives

flounder-like adj.

1630 P. Massinger Renegado iii. i. sig. F2^v You shall fall else, Not to firke your belly vp flounder like, but neuer To rise againe.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

floundern.²

Brit.

/ˈflaʊndə/, U.S.

/ˈflaʊndər/

Etymology: < flounder v.

The action of flounder v.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [noun] > rolling or tumbling about

waltering1528

floundering1726

rumble-tumble1811

flounder1867

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [noun] > shy or shying

shy1791

shying1796

flounder1867

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [noun] > rolling or tumbling about > lying struggling > act or spell of

flounder1867

1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling xiv. 408 The fish gave one flounder.

1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe ii. 104 With a graceful flounder I was presently landed in safety upon a..ledge.

1877 R. H. Roberts Harry Holbrooke of Holbrooke Hall ii. 34 His horse..after a severe flounder, regained his legs.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

flounderv.

Brit.

/ˈflaʊndə/, U.S.

/ˈflaʊndər/

Forms: Also 1500s–1600s flunder.

Etymology: Of obscure etymology. Perhaps an onomatopoeic blending of the sound and sense of various earlier words; compare founder v. (Old French fondrer ), blunder v., and the many verbs with initial fl- expressing impetuous and clumsy movements. Wedgwood and Skeat compare Dutch flodderen , to flounder in mire, to flop about: see the dialectal flodder v., which may have affected the development of the present word.

(a) intransitive. In early use, to stumble (cf. founder v.). Subsequently, to struggle violently and clumsily; to plunge, roll and tumble about in or as in mire; also (with on, along, etc.), to move on with clumsy or rolling gait, to struggle along with difficulty. Of a horse: To rear, plunge; †to ‘shy’ (at an object).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > stumble

spurnc1000

stumpc1250

misstepc1300

stummer13..

stumblec1325

snappera1352

thrumble1362

snatera1400

tripc1440

stut1574

stomber1588

flounder1592

strumble1681

plunther1841

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [verb (intransitive)] > shy

start?a1513

skeigh1513

startle1576

flounder1592

shy1796

scotch1832

nap1953

starter pack1955

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > roll or tumble about > of persons or animals

wallowc900

welter?a1400

rollc1405

wamblec1420

rumble?1516

tolter1529

shake1538

worblea1599

flounder1735

tousle1852

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)] > with persistence, effort, or urgency

shovec888

thringc893

thresta1225

wina1300

thrustc1330

pressa1375

throngc1440

wrestc1450

thrimp1513

to put forward1529

intrude1562

breast1581

shoulder1581

haggle1582

strivea1586

wrestle1591

to push on (also along)1602

elabour1606

contend1609

to put on?1611

struggle1686

worry1702

crush1755

squeege1783

battle1797

scrouge1798

sweat1856

flounder1861

pull?1863

tank1939

bulldozer1952

terrier1959

1592 W. Wyrley Lord Chandos in True Vse Armorie 101 My foot did slide and..Flundring, almost flat on earth I go.

a1625 J. Fletcher Womans Prize ii. vi, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ooooo^v/2 If she flownder with you, Clap spurs on.

1687 J. Dryden Hind & Panther iii. 90 He champs the bit..And starts a-side, and flounders at the cross.

1735 W. Somervile Chace iii. 135 Another in the treach'rous Bog Lies flound'ring.

1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 291 He lost his balance, and man and fish lay floundering together in the rapid.

1840 W. M. Thackeray Paris Sketch Bk. II. 132 You flounder in mud at every step.

1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. ii. 33 The four-oar floundered on ahead.

(b) quasi-transitive.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > cause by struggling

flounder1694

1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer iv. 61 You will but flounder your self a weary.

1816 T. Chalmers Let. in W. Hanna Mem. T. Chalmers II. 66 With the risk of floundering its uncertain way through [etc.].

b. transferred and figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > do something unskilfully [verb (intransitive)] > blunder, stumble, or flounder

stumblec1394

bumble1533

blunder1641

flounder1684

1684 S. E. Answer Remarks upon Dr. H. More 299 The Remarker, in the very entrance, shuffles and flunders.

1728 A. Pope Dunciad i. 104 The Bard..writ, and flounder'd on, in mere despair.

1807 Salmagundi 27 June 237 He dashed off to a ball, time enough to flounder through a cotillon.

1822 W. Hazlitt Table-talk II. viii. 197 They flounder about between fustian in expression, and bathos in sentiment.

1865 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia V. xviii. v. 120 The poor Prince's mind did flounder a good deal.

†2. transitive. To cause to flounder: to confound, embarrass. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > cause to roll or tumble about

walterc1380

overwhelve?c1400

welterc1425

flounder1654

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > confuse, perplex, bewilder [verb (transitive)]

abobc1330

confusec1350

confoundc1374

cumbera1375

passc1384

maskerc1400

mopc1425

enose1430

manga1450

overmusec1460

perplex1477

maze1482

enmuse1502

ruffle?a1505

unsteady1532

entangle1540

duddle1548

intricate1548

distraught1579

distract1582

mizzle1583

moider1587

amuse1595

mist1598

bepuzzle1599

gravel1601

plunder1601

puzzle1603

intrigue1612

vexa1613

metagrobolize?a1616

befumea1618

fuddle1617

crucify1621

bumfiddlea1625

implicate1625

giddify1628

wilder1642

buzzlea1644

empuzzle1646

dunce1649

addle1652

meander1652

emberlucock1653

flounder1654

study1654

disorient1655

embarrass?1656

essome1660

embrangle1664

jumble1668

dunt1672

muse1673

clutter1685

emblustricate1693

fluster1720

disorientate1728

obfuscate1729

fickle1736

flustrate1797

unharmonize1797

mystify1806

maffle1811

boggle1835

unballast1836

stomber1841

throw1844

serpentine1850

unbalance1856

tickle1865

fog1872

bumfuzzle1878

wander1897

to put off1909

defeat1914

dither1919

befuddle1926

ungear1931

to screw up1941

1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iii. ii. 74 He..fell into Cocytus..where floundred extreamly and uncouthly accoutred, yet he resolv'd to call for no helpe.

1685 H. More Paralipomena Prophetica 154 Those Interpreters..flunder and confound all.

†3. to flounder up: to choke up (a watercourse). Obsolete [Cf. flodder v.]

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > close or shut [verb (transitive)] > close by obstruction or block up > block the way or a passage

forsetc900

withseta1300

stop13..

speara1325

withsperre1330

to stop one's way1338

shut1362

forbara1375

beseta1400

stopc1400

precludea1513

interclude1526

to shut up1526

forestall1528

fence1535

hedge1535

quar1542

foreclose1548

forestop1566

to flounder up1576

obstruct1578

bar1590

retrench1590

to shut the door in (also upon) (a person's) face1596

barricade1606

barricado1611

thwartc1630

blocka1644

overthwart1654

rebarricado1655

to choke up1673

blockade1696

embarrass1735

snow1816

roadblock1950

1576 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. (1880) 385 The streame behinde Oseney ys so floundred up that the water cannot passe..The dyches..are so floundred up w^th flaggs and fylth.

†4. intransitive. Of soil: To fall in. [Compare Old French fondrer in same sense.] Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > soil qualities > [verb (intransitive)] > fall in

flounder1774

run1802

slough1897

1774 G. White Let. 26 Feb. in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 177 A soil..much too loose and mouldering, liable to flounder, and threatening to overwhelm them [sc. Sand-martins] and their labours.

Derivatives

ˈflounderer n. one who flounders.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > person of weak intellect > confused, muddled person > [noun]

mafflardc1450

juffler15..

dromedary1567

madbrain1570

batie buma1586

addle-head1592

blunderkin1596

nit1598

addle-pate1601

hash1655

blunderbuss1692

blunderhead1692

shaffles1703

fog-pate1732

blunderer1741

puzzle-pate1761

slouch1767

étourdi1768

botch1769

puddle1782

bumble1789

scatter-brain1790

addle-brain1799

puzzle-head1815

shaffler1828

chowderhead1833

muddlehead1833

muddler1833

flounderer1836

duffer1842

muddle-pate1844

plug1848

incompetent1866

schlemiel1868

dinlo1873

drumble-dore1881

hodmandod1881

dub1887

prune1895

foozler1896

bollock1916

messer1926

Pilot Officer (also P.O.) Prune1942

spaz1965

spastic1981

1836 H. Smith Tin Trumpet II. 166 Learn this ye flounderers in the traps Of insulated lines and scraps.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

n.¹a1450

n.²1867

v.1576

单词	flounder
释义	floundern.¹ Brit. /ˈflaʊndə/, U.S. /ˈflaʊndər/ Forms: Also Middle English floundre, flownder, flowndre, flondyre, 1600s flunder. Etymology: The phonology seems to show that the immediate source is Anglo-Norman floundre (14th cent., Black Bk. Admir. II. 102) = Old French flondre (still current in Normandy); apparently of Scandinavian origin: compare Old Norse flyðra ( < flunþrjôn-), Middle Swedish, Swedish, Norwegian flundra, Danish flynder; modern German has flunder, but this is given by Gesner in 16th cent. as only an English* name (Kluge). The Middle High German vluoder of the same meaning is related by ablaut to flathe n., and cannot be directly connected with flounder; but the latter may possibly be from a nasalized form of the same root. 1. A small flatfish, Pleuronectes Flesus. In the U.S. applied to various other species of flatfish. Proverb: as flat as a flounder. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > seafood > [noun] > fish > plaice, flounder, or sole sole1347 floundera1450 plaicec1450 tongue-fish1655 tonguea1825 lemon dab1835 lemon sole1890 the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > order Pleuronectiformes (flat-fish) > [noun] > family Pleuronectidae > member of genus Platichthyes (flounder) flukea700 buttc1300 floundera1450 suanta1609 salmon flounder1815 Monterey halibut1882 the world > space > shape > condition of being broad in relation to thickness > broad in relation to thickness [phrase] (as) flat as a pancake1611 as flat as a flounder1856 a1450 Fysshynge wyth Angle (1883) 30 The flounder is an holsom fisshe. 1508 Bk. Keruynge (de Worde) sig. B.iv^v Base flounders sole. 1627 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman (rev. ed.) xvii. sig. Hh2^v The Eele and Flounder are two greedy Fish and byte at the red worme. 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 174 Fish..that continually crawl at the bottom; such as the eel and the flounder. 1828 T. Hood Stanzas to T. Woodgate in Lit. Souvenir IV. 166 Or are you where the flounders keep, Some dozen briny fathoms deep. 1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. vii. 77 You came in upon four of us down as flat as flounders. 2. Something resembling this fish. a. dialect. = fluke n.¹ 2. ΚΠ 1853 W. D. Cooper Gloss. Provincialisms Sussex (ed. 2) 45 Flounders, animals found in the livers of rotten sheep, called in Somerset, flooks. 1883 W. H. Cope Gloss. Hampshire Words b. (See quot. 1874.) Π 1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 889/2 Flounder, a slicking-tool whose edge is used to stretch leather for a boot front in a blocking or crimping board. 1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) III. 100 After this, the fronts are regularly placed on a block, being forced into position by an instrument called the flounder, and tacked to their place. c. A drowned corpse. Π 1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang Flounder. Compounds C1. General attributive. flounder-fishery n. Π 1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 20 Sept. 2/1 The flounder fishery is looking up again. C2. flounder-lantern n. a dialect name of the common flounder. flounder-man n. a hawker of flounders. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of provisions > seller of fish or seafood oyster-monger1321 rippier1384 fishera1400 pannierman1419 oyster sellera1425 fish-sellerc1440 pessonera1450 fishmonger1464 pikemonger1464 palingman1475 fish-man1540 jowter1550 mussel-mongera1625 flounder-man1700 periwinkler1837 fish-hawker1866 fish-salesman1868 piscitarian1880 fish-cadger1889 cod walloper1915 1700 W. Congreve Way of World v. i. 77 Hawkers, with Voices more Licentious than the loud Flounder-man's. flounder-mouth n. a mouth like a flounder's, a large mouth. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > mouth > [noun] > types of tutel?c1225 oven mouthc1425 plaice-moutha1569 pouch-mouth?1570 flop-mouth1604 flap-mouth1631 out-mouth1668 flounder-mouth1672 sparrow-mouth1673 splay-mouth1693 smoke-holea1704 screw mouth1707 spout mouth1736 beak-mouth1921 satchel-mouth1933 motormouth1976 1672–95 Brickmaker's Lament. in Roxburghe Ballads II. 40 The cryer he bawl'd, And there with his flounder-mouth loudly he yaul'd. flounder-mouthed adj. ΘΠ the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > [adjective] > boastful boastyc1300 bragc1315 boastfulc1380 great-moutheda1425 boggishc1440 avauntinga1513 windy1513 blazing1549 thrasonical1564 vauntful1590 vousty1596 braggadocian1599 self-boasting1599 braggart1604 braggartly?1611 braggadocio1615 braggeda1616 ampullous1622 rodomontado1645 vapouring1649 thrasonic1657 rodomontade1660 flounder-mouthed1663 fanfaron1670 vaunty1724 boastivea1763 Falstaffian1809 bounceable1831 jactant1839 braggadocious1853 blow-hard1855 loud-mouthed1867 flannel-mouthed1884 bull-mouthed1896 poppy-show1896 Tartarin1903 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > loud or resonant > having loud voice routing1567 full-mouthed1594 deep-moutheda1616 full-mouth1624 well-lunged1642 flounder-mouthed1663 bull-voiced1837 loud-voiced1850 shoutya1859 stentorian1875 trumpet-tongued1880 bull-throated1888 trumpet-mouthed1895 bull-mouthed1896 trumpet-voiced1902 1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. iv. vi. 47 She..rails at me like a Flounder-mouth'd Fish-woman. 1724 M. Davys Reformed Coquet (1752) 110 You great Flounder-mouth'd Sea-calf. flounder's-head n. (also flounder's-head whale) a bottle-nosed whale. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > order Cetacea (whales) > suborder Odontoceti > [noun] > family Ziphiidae > genus Hyperoodon (bottle-nose) bottle-head1670 bottlenose1697 bottle-nosed whale1709 flounder's-head1717 hyperoödon1843 dœgling1866 1717 in S. Dale Hist. Harwich Tab. xiv The Bottle-Head or Flounders-Head-Whale. Derivatives flounder-like adj. Π 1630 P. Massinger Renegado iii. i. sig. F2^v You shall fall else, Not to firke your belly vp flounder like, but neuer To rise againe. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022). floundern.² Brit. /ˈflaʊndə/, U.S. /ˈflaʊndər/ Etymology: < flounder v. The action of flounder v. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [noun] > rolling or tumbling about waltering1528 floundering1726 rumble-tumble1811 flounder1867 the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [noun] > shy or shying shy1791 shying1796 flounder1867 the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [noun] > rolling or tumbling about > lying struggling > act or spell of flounder1867 1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling xiv. 408 The fish gave one flounder. 1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe ii. 104 With a graceful flounder I was presently landed in safety upon a..ledge. 1877 R. H. Roberts Harry Holbrooke of Holbrooke Hall ii. 34 His horse..after a severe flounder, regained his legs. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022). flounderv. Brit. /ˈflaʊndə/, U.S. /ˈflaʊndər/ Forms: Also 1500s–1600s flunder. Etymology: Of obscure etymology. Perhaps an onomatopoeic blending of the sound and sense of various earlier words; compare founder v. (Old French fondrer ), blunder v., and the many verbs with initial fl- expressing impetuous and clumsy movements. Wedgwood and Skeat compare Dutch flodderen , to flounder in mire, to flop about: see the dialectal flodder v., which may have affected the development of the present word. 1. a. (a) intransitive. In early use, to stumble (cf. founder v.). Subsequently, to struggle violently and clumsily; to plunge, roll and tumble about in or as in mire; also (with on, along, etc.), to move on with clumsy or rolling gait, to struggle along with difficulty. Of a horse: To rear, plunge; †to ‘shy’ (at an object). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > stumble spurnc1000 stumpc1250 misstepc1300 stummer13.. stumblec1325 snappera1352 thrumble1362 snatera1400 tripc1440 stut1574 stomber1588 flounder1592 strumble1681 plunther1841 the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [verb (intransitive)] > shy start?a1513 skeigh1513 startle1576 flounder1592 shy1796 scotch1832 nap1953 starter pack1955 the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > roll or tumble about > of persons or animals wallowc900 welter?a1400 rollc1405 wamblec1420 rumble?1516 tolter1529 shake1538 worblea1599 flounder1735 tousle1852 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)] > with persistence, effort, or urgency shovec888 thringc893 thresta1225 wina1300 thrustc1330 pressa1375 throngc1440 wrestc1450 thrimp1513 to put forward1529 intrude1562 breast1581 shoulder1581 haggle1582 strivea1586 wrestle1591 to push on (also along)1602 elabour1606 contend1609 to put on?1611 struggle1686 worry1702 crush1755 squeege1783 battle1797 scrouge1798 sweat1856 flounder1861 pull?1863 tank1939 bulldozer1952 terrier1959 1592 W. Wyrley Lord Chandos in True Vse Armorie 101 My foot did slide and..Flundring, almost flat on earth I go. a1625 J. Fletcher Womans Prize ii. vi, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ooooo^v/2 If she flownder with you, Clap spurs on. 1687 J. Dryden Hind & Panther iii. 90 He champs the bit..And starts a-side, and flounders at the cross. 1735 W. Somervile Chace iii. 135 Another in the treach'rous Bog Lies flound'ring. 1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 291 He lost his balance, and man and fish lay floundering together in the rapid. 1840 W. M. Thackeray Paris Sketch Bk. II. 132 You flounder in mud at every step. 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. ii. 33 The four-oar floundered on ahead. (b) quasi-transitive. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > cause by struggling flounder1694 1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer iv. 61 You will but flounder your self a weary. 1816 T. Chalmers Let. in W. Hanna Mem. T. Chalmers II. 66 With the risk of floundering its uncertain way through [etc.]. b. transferred and figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > do something unskilfully [verb (intransitive)] > blunder, stumble, or flounder stumblec1394 bumble1533 blunder1641 flounder1684 1684 S. E. Answer Remarks upon Dr. H. More 299 The Remarker, in the very entrance, shuffles and flunders. 1728 A. Pope Dunciad i. 104 The Bard..writ, and flounder'd on, in mere despair. 1807 Salmagundi 27 June 237 He dashed off to a ball, time enough to flounder through a cotillon. 1822 W. Hazlitt Table-talk II. viii. 197 They flounder about between fustian in expression, and bathos in sentiment. 1865 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia V. xviii. v. 120 The poor Prince's mind did flounder a good deal. †2. transitive. To cause to flounder: to confound, embarrass. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > cause to roll or tumble about walterc1380 overwhelve?c1400 welterc1425 flounder1654 the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > confuse, perplex, bewilder [verb (transitive)] abobc1330 confusec1350 confoundc1374 cumbera1375 passc1384 maskerc1400 mopc1425 enose1430 manga1450 overmusec1460 perplex1477 maze1482 enmuse1502 ruffle?a1505 unsteady1532 entangle1540 duddle1548 intricate1548 distraught1579 distract1582 mizzle1583 moider1587 amuse1595 mist1598 bepuzzle1599 gravel1601 plunder1601 puzzle1603 intrigue1612 vexa1613 metagrobolize?a1616 befumea1618 fuddle1617 crucify1621 bumfiddlea1625 implicate1625 giddify1628 wilder1642 buzzlea1644 empuzzle1646 dunce1649 addle1652 meander1652 emberlucock1653 flounder1654 study1654 disorient1655 embarrass?1656 essome1660 embrangle1664 jumble1668 dunt1672 muse1673 clutter1685 emblustricate1693 fluster1720 disorientate1728 obfuscate1729 fickle1736 flustrate1797 unharmonize1797 mystify1806 maffle1811 boggle1835 unballast1836 stomber1841 throw1844 serpentine1850 unbalance1856 tickle1865 fog1872 bumfuzzle1878 wander1897 to put off1909 defeat1914 dither1919 befuddle1926 ungear1931 to screw up1941 1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iii. ii. 74 He..fell into Cocytus..where floundred extreamly and uncouthly accoutred, yet he resolv'd to call for no helpe. 1685 H. More Paralipomena Prophetica 154 Those Interpreters..flunder and confound all. †3. to flounder up: to choke up (a watercourse). Obsolete [Cf. flodder v.] ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > close or shut [verb (transitive)] > close by obstruction or block up > block the way or a passage forsetc900 withseta1300 stop13.. speara1325 withsperre1330 to stop one's way1338 shut1362 forbara1375 beseta1400 stopc1400 precludea1513 interclude1526 to shut up1526 forestall1528 fence1535 hedge1535 quar1542 foreclose1548 forestop1566 to flounder up1576 obstruct1578 bar1590 retrench1590 to shut the door in (also upon) (a person's) face1596 barricade1606 barricado1611 thwartc1630 blocka1644 overthwart1654 rebarricado1655 to choke up1673 blockade1696 embarrass1735 snow1816 roadblock1950 1576 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. (1880) 385 The streame behinde Oseney ys so floundred up that the water cannot passe..The dyches..are so floundred up w^th flaggs and fylth. †4. intransitive. Of soil: To fall in. [Compare Old French fondrer in same sense.] Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > soil qualities > [verb (intransitive)] > fall in flounder1774 run1802 slough1897 1774 G. White Let. 26 Feb. in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 177 A soil..much too loose and mouldering, liable to flounder, and threatening to overwhelm them [sc. Sand-martins] and their labours. Derivatives ˈflounderer n. one who flounders. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > person of weak intellect > confused, muddled person > [noun] mafflardc1450 juffler15.. dromedary1567 madbrain1570 batie buma1586 addle-head1592 blunderkin1596 nit1598 addle-pate1601 hash1655 blunderbuss1692 blunderhead1692 shaffles1703 fog-pate1732 blunderer1741 puzzle-pate1761 slouch1767 étourdi1768 botch1769 puddle1782 bumble1789 scatter-brain1790 addle-brain1799 puzzle-head1815 shaffler1828 chowderhead1833 muddlehead1833 muddler1833 flounderer1836 duffer1842 muddle-pate1844 plug1848 incompetent1866 schlemiel1868 dinlo1873 drumble-dore1881 hodmandod1881 dub1887 prune1895 foozler1896 bollock1916 messer1926 Pilot Officer (also P.O.) Prune1942 spaz1965 spastic1981 1836 H. Smith Tin Trumpet II. 166 Learn this ye flounderers in the traps Of insulated lines and scraps. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹a1450n.²1867v.1576
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floundern.1

Compounds

Derivatives

floundern.2

flounderv.

Derivatives

floundern.¹

floundern.²