A game, problem, or toy designed to test ingenuity or knowledge through problem-solving. Something that is difficult to understand or explain; a mystery.
Origin uncertain, possibly from 'pusle' meaning 'to perplex' or related to 'pose' (to put forward a question). First appeared in English in the 16th century with the sense of bewilderment or confusion.
The word 'puzzle' may come from the idea of 'pusling' or pushing at a problem, reflecting the physical and mental effort involved in solving them. Jigsaw puzzles weren't invented until the 1760s, originally as educational tools to teach geography to children using maps mounted on wood.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.