clumse

== English == === Alternative forms === clumpse, clumps === Etymology === From Middle English clumsen, clomsen, cloumsen, from Old Norse *klumsa (compare Old Norse klumsa (“lock-jawed”)), whence also dialectal Norwegian klumsa (“to make speechless or benumbed”), dialectal Swedish klumsen (“numb with cold”). Compare related Low German verklamen, Dutch kleumen, verkleumen, German verklomen. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈklʌms/ Rhymes: -ʌms === Verb === clumse (third-person singular simple present clumses, present participle clumsing, simple past and past participle clumsed) (transitive) To numb; benumb; stiffen or paralyse with cold or fear (intransitive) To be numb or benumbed; be stiffened or paralysed with cold or fear (dialectal, Scotland) To die of thirst === Adjective === clumse (comparative more clumse, superlative most clumse) benumbed, as with cold idle; lazy; loutish === Noun === clumse (plural clumses) A stupid fellow; numbskull ==== Derived terms ==== clumsy === Anagrams === muscle