Confused or disoriented, often from alcohol or lack of sleep; unable to think clearly.
From the verb 'fuddle' (to confuse or stupefy), which emerged in the 1600s, possibly from Middle Low German 'fuddern' meaning to fidget or move about confusedly. The suffix '-ed' makes it an adjective describing a state of being confused.
The word 'fuddled' became especially popular in 18th-century British tavern culture to describe drunken patrons, and it perfectly captures that specific fuzzy-headed feeling where you can't quite organize your thoughts—which is why it's still used today even when alcohol isn't involved.
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