noun The act of groping; awkward attempt; aimless search. noun In base-ball, foot-ball, and other games, an act of fumbling.

What does fumble mean?

1a : to grope for or handle something clumsily or aimlessly. b : to make awkward attempts to do or find something fumbled in his pocket for a coin. c : to search by trial and error. d : blunder.

What is the origin of the word fumble?

mid-15c., "handle clumsily," possibly from Old Norse falma "to fumble, grope." Similar words in Scandinavian and North Sea Germanic (Swedish fumla; Dutch fommelen) suggest onomatopoeia from a sound felt to indicate clumsiness (compare bumble, stumble, and obsolete English famble, fimble of roughly the same meaning).