subs. (colloquial).—A state of confusion.

1

  1854.  DICKENS, Hard Times, passim.

2

  1882.  E. J. WORBOISE, Sissie, xxv. ‘There is no management in our house; there is nothing but MUDDLE.’

3

  Verb. (common).—1.  To stupefy with liquor. For synonyms, see DRINKS and SCREWED.

4

  1712.  ARBUTHNOT, The History of John Bull, ii. viii. ‘I was for five years often drunk, always MUDDLED.’

5

  1834.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, III. ii. I must not MUDDLE my brain with any more Pharaoh.

6

  1872.  Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan. ‘The Clerical Scandal.’ The vicar had a pocket handkerchief in his hand, and was wiping his face. He appeared to be MUDDLED.

7

  2.  (colloquial).—To bungle.

8

  3.  (old Scots’).—To copulate. For synonyms, see GREENS and RIDE.

9

  TO MUDDLE AWAY, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To squander aimlessly; to waste one knows not how.

10