clumse

Meanings

1. To numb; benumb; stiffen or paralyse with cold or fear
2. To be numb or benumbed; be stiffened or paralysed with cold or fear
3. To die of thirst

1. benumbed, as with cold
2. idle; lazy; loutish

1. A stupid fellow; numbskull

Etymology

From Middle English clumsen, clomsen, cloumsen, from Old Norse *klumsa (compare Old Norse klumsa (“lock-jawed”)), whence also dialectal Norwegian klumsa (“to make speechless or benumbed”), dialectal Swedish klumsen (“numb with cold”). Compare related Low German verklamen, Dutch kleumen, verkleumen, German verklomen.