Clumsy
[kluhm-zee] /ˈklʌm zi/
adjective, clumsier, clumsiest.
1.
awkward in movement or action; without skill or grace:
He is very clumsy and is always breaking things.
2.
awkwardly done or made; unwieldy; ill-contrived:
He made a clumsy, embarrassed apology.
/ˈklʌmzɪ/
adjective -sier, -siest
1.
lacking in skill or physical coordination
2.
awkwardly constructed or contrived
adj.
1590s, “acting as if benumbed,” alteration of Middle English clumsid “numb with cold” (14c.), past participle of clumsen “to benumb, stiffen or paralyze with cold or fear,” from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse klumsa “make speechless, palsy; prevent from speaking,” intensive of kluma “to make motionless.” For insertion of -s-, cf. flimsy.
Not in general use until 18c., with senses “manifesting awkwardness; so made as to be unwieldy.” Related: Clumsily; clumsiness. Cf. Swedish dialectal klummsen “benumbed with cold,” Norwegian klumsad (past participle) “speechless, palsied by a spasm or by fear or witchery;” German verklammen “grow stiff or numb with cold.” Also cf. clumse (n.) “a stupid fellow.”
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