clumse
English
Alternative forms
- clumpse, clumps
Etymology
From Middle English clumsen, clomsen, cloumsen, from Old Norse *klumsa (compare Old Norse klumsa (“lock-jawed”)), whence also dialectal Norwegian klumsa (“to make speechless or benumbed”), dialectal Swedish klumsen (“numb with cold”). Compare related Low German verklamen, Dutch kleumen, verkleumen, German verklomen.
Verb
clumse (third-person singular simple present clumses, present participle clumsing, simple past and past participle clumsed)
- (transitive) To numb; benumb; stiffen or paralyse with cold or fear
- (intransitive) To be numb or benumbed; be stiffened or paralysed with cold or fear
- (dialectal, Scotland) To die of thirst
Adjective
clumse (comparative more clumse, superlative most clumse)
- benumbed, as with cold
- idle; lazy; loutish
Noun
clumse (plural clumses)
- A stupid fellow; numbskull
Derived terms
- clumsy
Anagrams
- muscle