muff

American  

[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. muff glass

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verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to bungle; handle clumsily.

   He muffed a good opportunity.

2. Sports. to fail to hold onto (a ball that may reasonably be expected to be caught successfully); fumble.

verb (used without object)

1. Informal. to bungle; perform clumsily.

muff ¹ British  

/ mʌf /

verb

1. to perform (an action) awkwardly

2. (tr) to bungle (a shot, catch, etc) in a game

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noun

1. any unskilful play in a game, esp a dropped catch

2. any clumsy or bungled action

3. a bungler

muff ² British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• muffy adjective

Etymology

Origin of muff

1590–1600; < Dutch mof, earlier moffel, muffel mitten, muff < Old North French moufle < early Medieval Latin muffula, perhaps < Frankish

Example Sentences

But when, against all odds, he seemingly achieves his goal, he muffs it.

From The Wall Street Journal

He proceeded to hit into his fifth out… except Kerkering muffed the grounder.

From Los Angeles Times

To that point, his signature moment in October might have been muffing a routine fly ball in the decisive Game 5 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last fall.

From The Wall Street Journal

Grimm muffed two punts against the 49ers, withering turnovers that could not have come at a worse time for him.

From Los Angeles Times

He muffed a punt that set up the Saints in scoring position and later bobbled another before recovering it, prompting rookie Luke Grimm to take over punt return duties in the second half.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• botch
• flub
• fumble
• mishandle