muff

muff · noun¹

1. Dutch · derived frommof“muff, mitten”
2. English todaymuff

Probably from Dutch mof (“muff, mitten”).

muff · noun, verb²

Unknown; perhaps a specialised use of Etymology 1, above; or perhaps related to Dutch muffen (“to dote”) and German muffen (“to sulk”).

muff · noun³

Clipping of muffin.

Muff · proper noun, proper noun⁴

1. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*mauwu“protruding mouth, pout”
2. Old Norse · derived frommágr
3. Middle English · derived frommaugh“son-in-law”
4. English todayMuff

* As an English surname, variant of Mowe, itself from Middle English maugh (“son-in-law”), from Old Norse mágr. * As a German and Alemannic German surname, from the noun mupf (“drooping mouth”), which is probably ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *mauwu (“protruding mouth, pout”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 19th c. A fool, a stupid or poor-spirited person.
• from 19th c. An error, a mistake; a failure to hold a ball when once in the hands.
• from 19th c. To drop or mishandle (the ball, a catch etc.); to play badly.
• from 1920s To mishandle; to bungle.