shuffling
UK: ˈʃʌf.lɪŋ | US: ˈʃʌf.lɪŋ
n. 1. The act of moving something or someone with a dragging or sliding motion.
n. 2. A slow, irregular walking gait, often with feet barely lifted.
n. 3. The act of rearranging or mixing items (e.g., cards in a deck).
vi. 1. To walk with a dragging or shuffling motion.
vt. 1. To mix or rearrange items randomly.
The root "shuffl" derives from Middle English shovelen or shufflen, meaning "to move clumsily" or "to mix disorderly," likely of Germanic origin. The "-ing" suffix marks it as a noun (gerund) or adjective. The word evokes the imagery of feet dragging or cards being mixed loosely, reflecting its dual meanings of physical movement and disorderly rearrangement.
The old man walked with a slow shuffling gait.
She was shuffling the deck of cards before dealing.
The sound of shuffling feet echoed in the hallway.
Stop shuffling your papers and focus on the task.
The dancer’s shuffling steps added rhythm to the performance.