Etymology Map
Back to all words

Blunder

3 stages from Old Norse to English.

Today it means a stupid or careless mistake; to make one

Where does the word "blunder" come from? It comes from Old Norse blunda, passing through Middle English before entering English (1700s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
blunda
Old Norse · medieval
"to shut one's eyes"
to shut the eyes; related to Norwegian blunde 'to doze'
2
Stage 2 of 3
blunderen
Middle English · 1300s
"to stumble about blindly"
used of moving blindly or stumbling about, as someone with eyes shut would
3
Stage 3 of 3
blunder
English · 1700s
"a stupid or careless mistake"
the noun for a careless, embarrassing mistake grew out of the image of blind stumbling
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Blunder’s story begins in Old Norse: blunda meant “to shut one's eyes.” To shut the eyes; related to Norwegian blunde 'to doze'. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as blunderen. Used of moving blindly or stumbling about, as someone with eyes shut would. It reached English by 1700s as blunder. The noun for a careless, embarrassing mistake grew out of the image of blind stumbling. Today, blunder means a stupid or careless mistake; to make one.