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bungle (v.)
"to work or act clumsily," 1520s, origin obscure. OED suggests imitative; perhaps a mix of boggle and bumble, or perhaps [Skeat] from a Scandinavian word akin to Swedish bangla "to work ineffectually," Old Swedish bunga "to strike" (related to German Bengel "cudgel," also "rude fellow"). Related: Bungled; bungling.
bungle (n.)
"a clumsy piece of work," 1650s, from bungle (v.).
updated on August 30, 2017
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