fumble

Etymology 1

Late Middle English, from Low German fommeln or Dutch fommelen. Or, perhaps from a Scandinavian/North Germanic source; compare Old Norse fálma, Swedish fumla, Danish fumle, German fummeln. The ultimate origin for either could perhaps be imitative of fumbling. Or, from Proto-Indo-European *pal- (“to shake, swing”), see also Latin palpo (“I pat, touch softly”), and possibly Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan (“to feel”).

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To handle nervously or awkwardly.
   Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.
   He fumbled the key into the lock.
2. (transitive, intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something
   He fumbled for his keys.
   He fumbled his way to the light-switch.
3. (intransitive) To blunder uncertainly.
   He fumbled through his prepared speech.
4. To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.
   to fumble for an excuse
   My understanding stutters, and my memory fumbles. August 12 1711, Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, letter to Dr. Chevenix
   Alas! how he fumbles about the domains. 1800, Wordsworth, Written in Germany on one of the coldest days of the century
5. (transitive, intransitive, sports) To drop a ball or a baton etc. by accident.
   Henderson's best strike on goal saw goalkeeper Kingson uncomfortably fumble his measured shot around the post. December 28, 2010, Owen Phillips, “Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool”, in BBC
6. To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.
7. (slang, obsolete) Of a man, to sexually underperform.

noun

1. (sports, American football, Canadian football) A ball etc. that has been dropped by accident.

Etymology 2

Blend of fool + crumble.

noun

1. (Britain) A dessert similar to a cross between a fool and a crumble.