Muffing

[muhf] /mʌf/

noun
1.
a thick, tubular case for the hands, covered with fur or other material, used by women and girls for warmth and as a handbag.
2.
a bungled or clumsy action or performance.
3.
Sports. a failure to hold onto a ball that may reasonably be expected to be caught successfully.
4.
a tuft of feathers on the sides of the head of certain fowls.
5.
Slang: Vulgar. a woman’s pubic area.
6.
See under .
verb (used with object)
7.
Informal. to bungle; handle clumsily:
He muffed a good opportunity.
8.
Sports. to fail to hold onto (a ball that may reasonably be expected to be caught successfully); fumble.
verb (used without object)
9.
Informal. to bungle; perform clumsily.
/mʌf/
noun
1.
an open-ended cylinder of fur or cloth into which the hands are placed for warmth
2.
the tuft on either side of the head of certain fowls
/mʌf/
verb
1.
to perform (an action) awkwardly
2.
(transitive) to bungle (a shot, catch, etc) in a game
noun
3.
any unskilful play in a game, esp a dropped catch
4.
any clumsy or bungled action
5.
a bungler
n.

“warm covering for the hands,” 1590s, from Dutch mof “a muff,” shortened from Middle Dutch moffel “mitten, muff,” from Middle French moufle “mitten,” from Old French mofle “thick glove, large mitten, handcuffs” (9c.), from Medieval Latin muffula “a muff,” of unknown origin. In 17c.-18c. also worn by men. Meaning “vulva and pubic hair” is from 1690s; muff-diver “one who performs cunnilingus” is from 1935.
v.

“to bungle,” 1827, pugilism slang, probably related to muff (n.) “awkward person” (1837), perhaps from muff (n.) on notion of someone clumsy because his hands are in a muff. Related: Muffed; muffing.

noun

verb

To fail; botch, esp by clumsiness •The older example refers to playing cricket: This is a ripe one. Don’t muff it, Billy (1837+)

[verb sense fr the clumsiness of someone wearing a muff on the hands]