kerflummox

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English

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Etymology

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From ker- +‎ flummox.

Verb

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kerflummox (third-person singular simple present kerflummoxes, present participle kerflummoxing, simple past and past participle kerflummoxed)

  1. (transitive, informal) To flummox; to perplex or baffle.
  2. (intransitive, informal, archaic) To ponder or meditate.
    • 1897, Rudyard Kipling, Captains Courageous:
      Disko Troop was smoking by the roof of the cabin—one eye on the craft around, and the other on the little fly at the main-mast-head.
      "When Dad kerflummoxes that way," said Dan in a whisper, "he's doin' some high-line thinkin' fer all hands. I'll lay my wage an' share we'll make berth soon. [] "

References

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  • Tony Thorne (2014) “kerflummox”, in Dictionary of Contemporary Slang, 4th edition, London,  []: Bloomsbury