fumble
UK: ˈfʌm.bəl | US: ˈfʌm.bəl
vi. to handle clumsily or nervously; to grope awkwardly
vt. to drop or mishandle (an object) due to clumsiness
n. an act of fumbling
The word "fumble" traces back to Old Norse fumla, meaning "to grope or bungle," likely imitative of clumsy movement. The suffix -ble (a variant of -le) adds a repetitive or frequentative sense, emphasizing awkward, hesitant actions. Over time, it evolved in Middle English to describe bungling physical or mental efforts, retaining its core idea of clumsiness.
He fumbled with his keys before finally unlocking the door.
The quarterback fumbled the ball during the final play.
She fumbled through her speech, forgetting several lines.
The actor fumbled his lines but recovered gracefully.
In the dark, I fumbled for the light switch.