Definition of the word flounder

The word "flounder" derives from the Middle English word "floundren," which itself is of unknown origins. Some linguists believe it may have derived from the Old Norse word "flundr," meaning "flatfish," as the Nordic populations that inhabited the region during the Viking Age are known to have fished and consumed flounder. Others propose that "flounder" is a combination of the Old English words "flæsc" (meaning "flesh") and "undor" (meaning "swimmer"), as the fish's round, flat body and habits of burying itself in sediment to avoid predators resemble that of carcasses floating in the water. Whatever its origin may be, the prevalent meaning of "flounder" today, both as a noun referring to the type of flatfish and as a verb describing the act of struggling or making errors in judgment or performance, is attributed to its development in Middle English, as records of its usage in this stage date back to the 14th century. Interestingly, the word "flounder" and its variants have been suggested as potential etymological origins for other English words, such as "flounder" (meaning "to lie or deceive," possibly influenced by the fish's camouflaged nature), "floater" (referring to a buoyant substance, possibly because some flounder species can change color and shape to blend in with their environment), and "feelder" (describing a cereal machine, possibly relating to the way flounder burrow through the sand with their fins).