To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
To move or act clumsily and in confusion. See Synonyms at blunder. See Usage Note at founder1.
n. The act of floundering.
[Probably alteration of founder1.]
floun·der 2 (floun'dər) n.
pl.flounder or floun·ders Any of various marine flatfishes of the families Bothidae and Pleuronectidae, which include important food fishes.
[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman floundre, of Scandinavian origin; see plat- in Indo-European roots.]
1592, perhaps an alteration of founder (q.v.), infl. by Du. flodderen "to flop about," or native verbs in fl- expressing clumsy motion.
flounder (n.)
"flatfish," c.1304, from Anglo-Fr. floundre, from O.N.Fr. flondre, from O.N. flydhra, related to M.L.G. vlundere, cognate with Gk. platys "flat, wide, broad" (see place (n.)).