muddle

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To mix together, to mix up

   To mix together, to mix up; to confuse.

   • Young children tend to muddle their words.
   • I will not , to please hostile critics , muddle the argument by making it one of recondite learning , in which neither I nor my readers are strong . I try to lay before the reader reasons from which he can judge for himself
2. 2

   To mash slightly for use in a cocktail.

   • He muddled the mint sprigs in the bottom of the glass.
3. 3

   To dabble in mud.

   • c. 1721-1722, Jonathan Swift, The Progress of Marriage Young ducklings foster'd by a hen; But, when let out, they run and muddle
4. ›+ 8 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To make turbid or muddy.

      • He did ill to Muddle the Water.
   2. 5

      To think and act in a confused, aimless way.

   3. 6

      To cloud or stupefy

      To cloud or stupefy; to render stupid with liquor; to intoxicate partially.

      • Their old master Epicurus seems to have had his brains so muddled and confounded with them, that he scarce ever kept in the right way.
      • […] I vvas for five Years often drunk, alvvays muddled, they carry'd me from Tavern to Tavern, to Alehouſes and Brandy Shops, and brought me acquainted vvith ſuch ſtrange Dogs!
   4. 7

      To waste or misuse, as one does who is stupid or intoxicated.

      • They muddle it [money] away without method or object, and without having anything to show for it.
   5. 8

      A mixture

      A mixture; a confusion; a garble.

      • The muddle of nervous speech he uttered did not have much meaning.
      • As a result, no single party or coalition immediately gained enough parliamentary seats to govern, thrusting Spain into a familiar political muddle and giving new life to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who only days ago seemed moribund.
   6. 9

      A mixture of crushed ingredients, as prepared with a muddler.

   7. 10

      A muddy mess.

   8. 11

      A servant's attendant

      A servant's attendant; underservant.

      • We bought a few rugs and odds and ends and our sitting room looks quite European; then we have a bedroom with 2 beds and a dressing room, also a corridor for the muddles and servants.
      • I have an ayah (or lady's maid), and a tailor (for the ayahs cannot work); and A—84 has a boy: also two muddles—one to sweep my room, and another to bring water.

The neighborhood

• neighbormudpuddle