▪ I. ˈbumbling, vbl. n.
[f. bumble v.1 and v.2 + -ing1.]
a. Blundering. b. Buzzing, humming.
| 1533 More Answ. Poyson. Bk. Wks. (1557) 1088/2 Tyndall dydde..make some bumlyng aboute a colour for the matter. 1556 J. Heywood Spider & Fl. lxiv. 71 Much bumbling among them all [flies]: there was. 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xiii, Bumbling of Bees. 1952 Essays in Criticism II. 11 The incongruity between Emma's high-flown sentiments and Charles's pedestrian bumblings. |
▪ II. ˈbumbling, ppl. a.
[f. bumble v.2 + -ing2.]
Awkward, blundering.
| 1886 Mrs. E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew ix, The rector's only son, a big bumbling young fellow. 1954 N. Balchin Last Recoll. Uncle Charles iv. 60 There must be people about who'd like to have a really fine car and not some bumbling old cab. 1955 Amer. Dial. Soc. Pubn. XXIV. 40 Every pickpocket has to believe that he is good,..even if he is the most bumbling of operators. |