flounder

Meanings

Noun

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

Verb

• To flop around as a fish out of water.
• To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
• To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
• To be in serious difficulty.

Origin

• From Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra, from Proto-Germanic *flunþrijǭ. Cognate with Danish flynder, German Flunder, Swedish flundra.
• Possibly from the noun. Probably a or a or from Dutch flodderen. See other terms beginning with fl, such as flutter, flitter, float, flap, flub, flip