Fumble
/ˈfʌm.bəl/noun
To handle, move, or search for something awkwardly or clumsily.
Did you know?Fumble emerged in Middle English for clumsy handling or groping, likely from a Germanic family of expressive words for fumbling movements rather than from a clearly traceable ancient root.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English, 14th Century
English
fumblen
“To grope about, handle awkwardly, or act clumsily.”
Late Middle English
English
fumble
“To handle something uncertainly or ineptly.”
Early Modern English, 16th Century
English
fumble
“To perform an action awkwardly or fail to grasp something properly.”
17th Century
English
fumble
“To mishandle an object or search by feeling with the hands.”
Modern English
English
fumble
“To deal with something clumsily, make an error, or lose possession of a ball.”