Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “stumble” come from?

Stumble comes from Proto-Germanic stam-, a root of uncertain origin and meaning related to unsteady movement.

stumble (English): A fall, trip or substantial misstep; An error or...

Definitions

  1. A fall, trip or substantial misstep; An error or...

Ancestry of “stumble”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicstam-to trip up; to stammer, stutter

Words derived from “stumble”

  • stumbling
  • stumblingblock
  • stumblingly
  • stumbleth
  • stumbler
  • stumblebum
  • stumblest
  • stumbly
  • stumblesome
Every word from Proto-Germanic stam- →