Covered with or consisting of mud; unclear, confused, or obscure in meaning or purpose. Can also mean to make something unclear or confusing.
From Middle English mody, from mud + -y suffix. The word 'mud' itself comes from Middle Low German mudde. The figurative sense of 'unclear' developed in the 16th century.
The phrase 'muddy the waters' perfectly captures how physical and metaphorical meanings intertwine - just as stirring up sediment makes water unclear, introducing confusing information makes understanding difficult. Mud has been a metaphor for confusion across many cultures and languages.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.