flummox English · revision 2049

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈflʌməks/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is probably from an English dialect;^(AHD)^(Etymonline) the OED finds candidate words in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Cheshire and Sheffield,^(Etymonline) and calls the formation onomatopoeic, suggesting throwing something down roughly.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To bring to confusion; to confound or bewilder (1834 in Etymonline; 1837 in the OED and Merriam-Webster).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a slang or cant word in English and Australian use,^(Etymonline) earlier meaning to beat someone so as to bewilder them (1832, in trial testimony).^(Etymonline) In American colloquial use (1839) it also meant to give up or collapse.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary) The general sense of perplexing someone is now the usual one.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1832 – to beat so as to bewilder.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1834 – to perplex, bewilder.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1837 – to confound, nonplus.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1839 – US, to give up, collapse.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To confuse or perplex; to bewilder.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To give up or collapse.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flabbergast]]

+ * [[bamboozle]]

+ * [[confound]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}