muff

[ muhf ]
/ mʌf /

noun

verb (used with object)

Informal. to bungle; handle clumsily: He muffed a good opportunity.
Sports. to fail to hold onto (a ball that may reasonably be expected to be caught successfully); fumble.

verb (used without object)

Informal. to bungle; perform clumsily.

Origin of muff

1590–1600; < Dutch mof, earlier moffel, muffel mitten, muff < Old North French moufle < early Medieval Latin muffula, perhaps < Frankish

OTHER WORDS FROM muff

muff·y, adjective

Definition for muff (2 of 2)

muff glass

noun

sheet glass made from a blown cylinder (muff) that is split and flattened.

Example sentences from the Web for muff

British Dictionary definitions for muff (1 of 2)

muff 1
/ (mʌf) /

noun

an open-ended cylinder of fur or cloth into which the hands are placed for warmth
the tuft on either side of the head of certain fowls

Word Origin for muff

C16: probably from Dutch mof, ultimately from French mouffle muffle 1

British Dictionary definitions for muff (2 of 2)

muff 2
/ (mʌf) /

verb

to perform (an action) awkwardly
(tr) to bungle (a shot, catch, etc) in a game

noun

any unskilful play in a game, esp a dropped catch
any clumsy or bungled action
a bungler

Word Origin for muff

C19: of uncertain origin