flounder

== English == === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˈflaʊndɚ/ Rhymes: -aʊndə(ɹ) === Etymology 1 === From Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra, from Proto-Germanic *flunþrijǭ. Cognate with Danish flynder, German Flunder, Swedish flundra. ==== Noun ==== flounder (plural flounder or flounders) A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder (Platichthys flesus). (Canada, US) Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae. A bootmaker's tool for crimping boot fronts. ===== Usage notes ===== The marked plural flounders is reserved for multiple species of flounder; the unmarked plural flounder is used otherwise. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Possibly from the noun. Probably a blend of flounce +‎ founder or a blend of founder +‎ blunder or from Dutch flodderen (“wade”). See other terms beginning with fl, such as flutter, flitter, float, flap, flub, flip. ==== Verb ==== flounder (third-person singular simple present flounders, present participle floundering, simple past and past participle floundered) (intransitive) To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered. (intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water. (intransitive) To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance. To be in serious difficulty. ===== Usage notes ===== Frequently confused with the verb founder. The difference is one of severity; floundering (struggling to maintain a position) comes before foundering (losing it completely by falling, sinking or failing). ===== Synonyms ===== ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== flail ===== Translations ===== === References === “flounder”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Anagrams === reunfold, unfolder == Middle English == === Noun === flounder alternative form of flowndre