flounder

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English

A European flounder, Platichthys flesus.

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 229: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GenAm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈflaʊndɚ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aʊndə(ɹ)

Etymology 1

 flounder on Wikipedia

From Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Lua error in Module:parameters at line 229: Parameter 2 should be a valid language, etymology language or family code; the value "ONF." is not valid. See WT:LOL, WT:LOL/E and WT:LOF., from Old Norse flyðra[1][2], from Proto-Germanic *flunþrijǭ. Cognate with Danish flynder, German Flunder, Swedish flundra.

Noun

flounder (plural flounders or flounder)

  1. A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder, Lua error in Module:taxlink at line 68: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template..
  2. (Canada, US) Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.
  3. A bootmaker's tool for crimping boot fronts.
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Particularly: "the bootmaker's tool"
Derived terms
Translations
any flatfish — see flatfish
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Etymology 2

Possibly from the noun. Possibly from founder or from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Dutch flodderen (“wade”). See other terms beginning with fl, such as flutter, flitter, float, flap, flub, flip

Verb

flounder (third-person singular simple present flounders, present participle floundering, simple past and past participle floundered)

  1. (intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.
  2. (intransitive) To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
    Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.
  3. (intransitive) To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
    • (Can we date this quote by Sir W. Hamilton and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      They have floundered on from blunder to blunder.
    He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.
    • 1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, Virago Press, paperback edition, page 136
      He is assessing directions, but he is not lost, not floundering.
  4. To be in serious difficulty.
    • 2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 159:
      Meanwhile bus and tram competition was causing the the Central London Railway to flounder after its early success, and as for the City & South London ... that had always floundered.
Usage notes

Frequently confused with the verb founder. The difference is one of severity; floundering (struggling to maintain a position) comes before foundering (losing it completely by falling, sinking or failing).

Translations

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “flounder”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ “flynder” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog

Anagrams

Middle English

Noun

flounder

  1. Alternative form of flowndre
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