Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Flounder
Floun′der
,Noun.
[Cf. Sw.
flundra
; akin to Dan. flynder
, Icel. fly[GREEK]ra
, G. flunder
, and perh. to E. flounder
, v.i.] 1.
(Zool.)
A flatfish of the family
Pleuronectidæ
, of many species. ☞ The common English flounder is
Pleuronectes flesus
. There are several common American species used as food; as the smooth flounder (P. glabra
); the rough or winter flounder (P. Americanus
); the summer flounder, or plaice (Paralichthys dentatus
), Atlantic coast; and the starry flounder (Pleuronectes stellatus
). 2.
(Bootmaking)
A tool used in crimping boot fronts.
Floun′der
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Floundered
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Floundering
.] [Cf. D.
flodderen
to flap, splash through mire, E. flounce
, v.i., and flounder
the fish.] To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle, as a horse in the mire, or as a fish on land; to roll, toss, and tumble; to flounce.
They have
floundered
on from blunder to blunder. Sir W. Hamilton.
Floun′der
,Noun.
The act of floundering.
Webster 1828 Edition
Flounder
FLOUN'DER
,Noun.
FLOUN'DER
,Verb.
I.
To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle as a horse in the mire; to roll, toss and tumble.