Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Flounder
Floun′der
,Noun.
[Cf. Sw.
flundra
; akin to Dan. flynder
, Icel. fly[GREEK]ra
, G. flunder
, and perh. to E. flounder
, v.i.] 1.
(Zool.)
A flatfish of the family
Pleuronectidæ
, of many species. ☞ The common English flounder is
Pleuronectes flesus
. There are several common American species used as food; as the smooth flounder (P. glabra
); the rough or winter flounder (P. Americanus
); the summer flounder, or plaice (Paralichthys dentatus
), Atlantic coast; and the starry flounder (Pleuronectes stellatus
). 2.
(Bootmaking)
A tool used in crimping boot fronts.
Floun′der
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Floundered
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Floundering
.] [Cf. D.
flodderen
to flap, splash through mire, E. flounce
, v.i., and flounder
the fish.] To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle, as a horse in the mire, or as a fish on land; to roll, toss, and tumble; to flounce.
They have
floundered
on from blunder to blunder. Sir W. Hamilton.
Floun′der
,Noun.
The act of floundering.
Webster 1828 Edition
Flounder
FLOUN'DER
,Noun.
FLOUN'DER
,Verb.
I.
To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle as a horse in the mire; to roll, toss and tumble.
Definition 2024
flounder
flounder
English
A European flounder, Platichthys flesus.
Noun
flounder (plural flounders or flounder)
- A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder, Platichthys flesus.
- (Canada, US) Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.
- A bootmaker's tool for crimping boot fronts.
Translations
Platichthys flesus
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any flatfish — see flatfish
Etymology 2
Possibly from the noun. Possibly from founder or from Dutch flodderen (“wade”). See other terms beginning with fl, such as flutter, flitter, float, flap, flub, flip
Verb
flounder (third-person singular simple present flounders, present participle floundering, simple past and past participle floundered)
- (intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.
- (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.
- (intransitive) To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
- Sir W. Hamilton
- They have floundered on from blunder to blunder.
- He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.
- 1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, Virago Press, paperback edition, page 136
- He is assessing directions, but he is not lost, not floundering.
- Sir W. Hamilton
Usage notes
Frequently confused with the verb founder. The difference is one of severity; floundering (struggling to maintain a position) comes before foundering (losing it completely by falling, sinking or failing).
Translations
to flop around
to attempt to move or regain one's balance
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to act clumsily or confused
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References
- ↑ “flounder” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
- ↑ “flynder” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog