Origin of muddle

1540–50; mud + -le; cognate with Middle Dutch moddelen to muddy

OTHER WORDS FROM muddle

mud·dled·ness, mud·dle·ment, noun mud·dling·ly, adverb pre·mud·dle, noun, verb (used with object), pre·mud·dled, pre·mud·dling. un·mud·dled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for muddle

British Dictionary definitions for muddle

muddle
/ (ˈmʌdəl) /

verb (tr)

(often foll by up) to mix up (objects, items, etc); jumble
to confuse
to make (water) muddy or turbulent
US to mix or stir (alcoholic drinks, etc)

noun

a state of physical or mental confusion

Derived forms of muddle

Word Origin for muddle

C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch moddelen to make muddy