Quagmire
/ˈkwæɡ.maɪr/noun
A soft, wet area of ground that gives way underfoot; by extension, a difficult or precarious situation.
Did you know?Quagmire is an old English compound of two native words, and its original image is so physical that it still feels like a trap you can sink into.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
cwacian?
“No established direct ancestor; the first element is likely related to dialectal quag- meaning soft or shaky, but the exact prehistory is uncertain.”
Old Norse / Germanic
Gmc
mýrr
“Bog, swamp, marsh.”
Middle English
ME
quag + mire
“A soft, boggy place; a marshy bog that can swallow a foot or wheel.”
16th Century
English
quagmire
“A bog, marsh, or quaking swamp.”
Modern English
English
quagmire
“A difficult, sticky, or intractable situation.”