puzzle English · revision 10717

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=1582}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpʌz.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of unknown origin.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) Barnhart and Etymonline suggest it may be a frequentative of [[pose]] in its obsolete sense, to perplex, as [[nuzzle]] is of [[nose]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) but Word Origins finds the evidence for a link with pose weak and thinks puzzle probably arose independently.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To bewilder, confound: 1582 in Merriam-Webster;^(MWU 2024) about 1595 as pusle in Barnhart, the 1590s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To exercise one's mind on a problem, be perplexed, is first recorded in 1605.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, a puzzled condition, is from 1607–12, in Bacon's Essays,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) a hard problem from 1655,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and a toy made to test one's ingenuity from 1814.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A picture cut into pieces to be put together, the jigsaw puzzle, is first attested about 1815.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Puzzler'' is from before 1652 and ''puzzlement'' from 1822.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1582 – to puzzle.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1605 – to be perplexed.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1607–12 – a puzzled state (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1655 – a hard problem.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1814 – a toy puzzle.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1822 – puzzlement.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A game, toy or problem that tests ingenuity, such as a [[jigsaw]] or crossword.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something hard to understand; a [[mystery]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To baffle or confuse.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To think hard about a problem, with ''over''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To work out by careful thought, with ''out''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[puzzler]]

+ * [[puzzledly]]

+ * [[puzzledness]]

+ * [[puzzleheaded]]

+ * [[unpuzzle]]

+ * [[puzzlement]]

+ * [[puzzling]]

+ * [[monkey puzzle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pose]]

+ * [[nuzzle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}