The story
Not clear. Likely onomatopoeic. Possibly reduplication of derived from the then-used verbs mumble (“to mix up”) and fubble (“to jumble up”), or perhaps the slang term fumble (“to sexually underperform”). Compare mumble-jumble.
First known use, by meaning
- 16th & 17th c. The doldrums; the blahs; a downer; a mood of depression, dejection or melancholy.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.