bumble

bumble · noun, verb¹

Onomatopoeia. Compare bungle, jumble, and fumble.

bumble · verb, noun²

* Verb: Frequentative of boom and/or bum, equivalent to bum + -le. * Noun: From the verb.

First known use, by meaning

• from 1530s To act or move in an awkward or confused manner (often clumsily, incompetently, or carelessly).
• from ca. 1719? To carry out (a task) clumsily, incompetently, or with many careless mistakes; to bungle, to botch.
• from ca. 1405 To boom, as a Eurasian bittern.
• from 1689 To buzz or bum.
• from 1911 To speak in a rambling, incoherent, or indistinct manner, especially at tedious length.
• 1675–1781 To grumble at; to blame.
• from 1599 A bumblebee.
• from 1813 A Eurasian bittern.