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befuddle

Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:00 pm
by eberntson
TRANSITIVE VERB:
be·fud·dled, be·fud·dling, be·fud·dles
To confuse; perplex. See Synonyms at confuse.
To stupefy with or as if with alcoholic drink.

So, I can't find out much about this word except it first appeared in 1820s. Any input?

Re: befuddle

Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 4:08 pm
by Perry Lassiter
OEtymD:
"confuse," 1873, from be- + fuddle; originally "to confuse with strong drink or opium" (by 1832). An earlier word in the same sense was begunk (1725). Related: Befuddled; befuddling.
fuddle (v.)
1580s, originally "to get drunk," later "to confuse as though with drink" (c.1600), of uncertain origin, perhaps from Low German fuddeln "work in a slovenly manner (as if drunk)," from fuddle "worthless cloth." The more common derivative befuddle appeared 1887. Related: Fuddled; fuddling.