muddle

Main Entry: ¹mud·dle 

Pronunciation: \ˈmə-d^əl\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): mud·dled; mud·dling \ˈməd-liŋ, ˈmə-d^əl-iŋ\

Etymology: probably from obsolete Dutch moddelen, from Middle Dutch, from modde mud; akin to Middle Low German mudde

Date: 1676

transitive verb 

1 : to make turbid or muddy
2 : to befog or stupefy especially with liquor
3 : to mix confusedly
4 : to make a mess of : bungle 

intransitive verb 

: to think or act in a confused aimless way

— mud·dler \ˈməd-lər, ˈmə-d^əl-ər\ noun