blunder

plural blunders

1. A clumsy or embarrassing mistake.

   We could laugh at our scholastic blunders and our social faux pas's.

   1869, The Cornellian, volume 124, Secret Societies of Cornell University, page 353

   Synonyms: blooper

2. board gamesA very bad move, usually caused by some tactical oversight.

   Synonyms: mul:??

3. obsoleteConfusion; bewilderment; trouble; disturbance; clamour.First known use ca. 1375–1774

present singular third person blunders · participle present blundering · participle past blundered · past blundered

1. intransitiveTo make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid.First known use 1706

   to blunder in preparing a medical prescription

   1. intransitivebackgammonTo make a bad move, especially caused by tactical oversight.
   2. intransitivetransitiveboard gamesTo lose a piece due to having made a bad move [with the piece lost].

      blunder a rook

   3. intransitivetransitiveboard gamesTo overlook the possibility of, or end up in, a specified undesirable situation after making a bad move.

      blunder a draw

      1 more example

      blunder a mate in one

2. figurativelyintransitivesometimesTo move in an unsteady way.First known use ca. 1386, figurative sense from 1641

   blunders on, and staggers every pace

   1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow.

   October 6, 1759, Oliver Goldsmith, The Bee No. 1

3. intransitiveTo enter a place or become involved in a difficult situation by mistake.

   He and I had blundered into the middle of a gang fight once and I saw him shank a guy-stuck homeboy in the chest and strolled off cool as you please.

   2007 May 6, Steve Geng, “First Chapter: ‘Thick as Thieves’”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Jun 2015

4. obsoletetransitiveTo do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse.

   He blunders and confounds all these together.

   1676, Edward Stillingfleet, A Defence of the Discourse Concerning the Idolatry Practised in the Church of Rome

   1 more example

   Were a Diſpute to be manag'd purely for a Trial of Skill; then to ſhuffle and digreſs from the Matter in hand, ſo as by any means whatſoever to blunder an Adverſary, and ſtop the Progreſs of his Argument, were a more pardonable Piece of Folly.

   1714, Humphry Ditton, A discourse concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ