Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “muddling” come from?

Muddling comes from Middle Dutch moddelen, derived from Middle Dutch modde, which traces back through Proto-Germanic mudra- to Proto-Indo-European mū-.

muddling (English): present participle of muddle; The act of one who...

Definitions

  1. present participle of muddle; The act of one who...

Ancestry of “muddling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmuddleTo mix together, to mix up; to confuse; To mash...
2Middle Dutchmoddelento make muddy
3Middle Dutchmodde—
4Proto-Germanicmud-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmū-fly, mosquito; fly, midge; lips, muzzle

Words derived from “muddling”

  • muddlingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mū- →