An obsolete or dialectal form meaning to move clumsily or to handle something awkwardly.
Related to or possibly a variant of 'clumsy,' though the direct connection is uncertain. The word appears in some regional English dialects but has largely disappeared from standard usage. Its evolution likely involved mixing with similar-sounding words describing awkward movement.
Words like 'clumse' show us that English had dozens of words for 'clumsy' behavior across different regions—'clumse,' 'fumble,' 'bungle,' 'stumble'—but standardization of the language gradually wiped out regional terms. Modern linguists treasure dialect dictionaries because they preserve these lost words.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.