To bumble is to move or act in a clumsy, confused, or awkward way. It can describe both physical movement and the way someone speaks or handles a situation.
Likely imitative in origin, related to “bum” and “boom,” copying the buzzing or blundering sound of movement. It is connected to “bumblebee,” named for its buzzing flight.
“Bumble” sounds like what it describes—a mix of bumping, mumbling, and buzzing. Even bumblebees are named for the noisy, slightly clumsy way they wobble through the air.
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