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blunder

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 4:41 pm
by skinem
I looked "blunder" up after first looking up "blunderbuss." I thought the etymolgies would be similar, but they weren't. I was a little surprised...but, then again, I'm easily surprised.

blun·der

Pronunciation: 'bl&n-d&r
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): blun·dered; blun·der·ing /-d(&-)ri[ng]/
Etymology: Middle English blundren, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse blunda to shut one's eyes, doze, Norwegian dialect blundra
intransitive verb
1 : to move unsteadily or confusedly
2 : to make a mistake through stupidity, ignorance, or carelessness
transitive verb
1 : to utter stupidly, confusedly, or thoughtlessly
2 : to make a stupid, careless, or thoughtless mistake in
- blun·der·er /-d&r-&r/ noun
- blun·der·ing·ly /-d(&-)ri[ng]-lE/ adverb

blun·der·buss
Pronunciation: 'bl&n-d&r-"b&s
Function: noun
Etymology: by folk etymology from obsolete Dutch donderbus, from Dutch donder thunder + obsolete Dutch bus gun
1 : a muzzle-loading firearm with a short barrel and flaring muzzle to facilitate loading
2 : a blundering person

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:45 pm
by Perry
But still, you wouldn't want to blunder into a blunderbuss toting nervous nellie, when a donderstorm is brewing.

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:52 am
by skinem
I would hate that, especially if blitzen was also involved!

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:22 pm
by Bailey
:lol: :lol: :lol:
mark still-laughing Bailey