Flounder

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aÊŠndÉ™(ɹ)

From Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra

Online Etymology Dictionary|flounder

ODS online|flynder

. Cognate with Danish flynder, German Flunder, Swedish flundra.

Full definition of flounder

Noun

1. A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder, .
2. (North America) Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.
3. A bootmaker's tool for crimping boot fronts.

Possibly from the noun. Possibly from founder or from Dutch flodderen ("wade"). See other terms beginning with fl, such as flutter, flitter, float, flap, flub, flip

Verb

1. (intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.
2. (intransitive) To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.
3. (intransitive) To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
• Sir W. HamiltonThey have floundered on from blunder to blunder.
4. He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.
• 1996, Janette Turner Hospital, , Virago Press, paperback edition, page 136He is assessing directions, but he is not lost, not floundering.

Usage notes

Frequently confused with the verb founder. The difference is one of severity; floundering (struggling to maintain a position) comes before foundering (losing it completely by falling, sinking or failing).