bumfuzzle

English

Etymology

Probably an alteration of fuzzled (“confused, intoxicated”), with the colloquial intensifier prefix bum-. First attested in 19th-century U.S. dialect.

Pronunciation

• (uk) IPA^(key): /ˈbʌmfʌzl/
• (us) IPA^(key): /ˈbəmˌfəz(ə)l/
• Hyphenation: bum‧fuz‧zle

Verb

bumfuzzle (third-person singular simple present bumfuzzles, present participle bumfuzzling, simple past and past participle bumfuzzled)

1. (transitive, colloquial, chiefly South Midland US, Southern US) To confuse or fluster.

Related terms

bamboozled

See also

• befuddled
• bewildered
• confounded
• flummoxed
• perplexed