kerflummox

English

Etymology

From ker- +‎ flummox.

Verb

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

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