flounder

Etymology 1

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.

noun

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

Etymology 2

Possibly from the noun. Probably a blend of flounce + founder or a blend of founder + blunder or from Dutch flodderen (“wade”). See other terms beginning with fl, such as flutter, flitter, float, flap, flub, flip.

verb

1. (intransitive) To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
   He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.
   He is assessing directions, but he is not lost, not floundering. 1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, paperback edition, Virago Press, page 136
2. (intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.
3. (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.
4. To be in serious difficulty.
   Meanwhile bus and tram competition was causing the Central London Railway to flounder after its early success, and as for the City & South London ... that had always floundered. 2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, page 159