v. & n.
v. 1 tr. (often foll. by up, together) bring into disorder. 2 tr. bewilder, confuse. 3 tr. mismanage (an affair). 4 tr. US crush and mix (the ingredients for a drink). 5 intr. (often foll. by with) busy oneself in a confused and ineffective way.
n. 1 disorder. 2 a muddled condition. make a muddle of 1 bring into disorder. 2 bungle. muddle along (or on) progress in a haphazard way. muddle-headed stupid, confused. muddle-headedness stupidity; a confused state. muddle through succeed by perseverance rather than skill or efficiency. muddle up confuse (two or more things). muddler n. muddlingly adv.
[ perh. f. MDu. moddelen, frequent. of modden dabble in mud (as MUD) ]