— fumbler , n. — fumblingly , adv. — fumblingness , n.
/fum"beuhl/ , v. , fumbled, fumbling , n.
v.i.
1. to feel or grope about clumsily: She fumbled in her purse for the keys.
2. Sports. to fumble the ball.
v.t.
3. to make, handle, etc., clumsily or inefficiently: to fumble an attempt; He fumbled his way through the crowded room.
4. Sports. to fail to hold or maintain hold on (a ball) after having touched it or carried it.
n.
5. the act of fumbling: We completed the difficult experiment without a fumble.
6. Sports. an act or instance of fumbling the ball.
[ 1500-10; akin to Norw, Sw fumla, MLG fummeln to grope, fumble ]
Syn. 3. bungle, botch, mishandle, spoil, muff.