clutter
UK: ˈklʌtə | US: ˈklʌtər
n. a collection of things lying about in an untidy state
vt. to fill or cover something with an untidy collection of things
vi. to move or act in a noisy, confused manner (archaic)
The word "clutter" originated in Middle English as cloteren, derived from clot (a dense mass) and the frequentative suffix -eren, implying repetitive action. It originally described the sound of clotting or clattering (e.g., hooves). By the 16th century, it evolved to mean "to crowd together" and later "disorganized accumulation." The modern sense of physical disarray emerged in the 19th century, retaining the core idea of clustered chaos.
Her desk was covered in a clutter of papers and coffee cups.
Don’t clutter the hallway with shoes and bags.
The attic is so cluttered that we can’t find the holiday decorations.
He complained about the visual clutter of roadside billboards.
The old typewriter cluttered noisily as she typed.