fluster

A state of agitation or confusion; a flutter.

Noun

  1. A state of agitation or confusion; a flutter.
    • Good-morrovv, Madam; hovv do you do to-day? you ſeem to be in a little fluſter. - a. 1727 (date written), John Vanbrugh, A Journey to London. Being Part of a Comedy Written by the Late Sir John Vanbrugh, Knt. and...
    • I wouldna wonder but ye're richt, Leeby; for Chirsty would be in an oncommon fluster if she thocht the lad's mither was likely to hear 'at her best chair was torn. - 1889, J[ames] M[atthew] Barrie, “On the Track of the...

    Synonyms: flurry

  2. A state of slight drunkenness or tipsiness; also, the excitement caused by this state.
    • It is certainly a very agreeable change, when we see a glass raise a lifeless conversation into all the pleasures of wit and good humour. But when Caska adds to his natural impudence the fluster of a bottle, that which...
  3. Showiness, splendour.
    • Yet to vvork he fell, not omitting firſt to Sum himſelf up in the vvhole vvardrobe of his Function; […] as to the end that being huff'd up in all his Eccleſiaſtical fluſter, he might appear more formidable, and in the...
    • Let no preſent fluſter of Fortune, or flovv of Riches, either tranſport the Man himſelf vvith Confidence, or the Fools about him vvith Admiration, till vve ſee that it makes him better and vviſer than he vvas before,...

Origin

The verb is probably from Middle English *flostren (implied in flostring, flostrynge (“agitation; blustering”)) from a Scandinavian (North Germanic) language; compare Icelandic flaustra (“to bustle”), flaustr (“a bustle; a hurry”). Compare Old English flustrian (“to weave, plait, braid”). The noun is derived from the verb.

Forms

flusters

Verb

  1. To throw (someone) into a state of confusion or panic; to befuddle, to confuse.
    • The aged housekeeper was no less flustered and hurried in obeying the numerous and contradictory commands of her mistress, […] - 1816, [Walter Scott], chapter V, in The Antiquary. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] James...
    • Weel, Sam'l, I d'na want to fluster ye, but she's been ower lang wi' Lisbeth Fargus no to hae learnt her ways. - 1888, J[ames] M[atthew] Barrie, “The Courting of T’Nowhead’s Bell”, in Auld Licht Idylls, London: Hodder...

    Synonyms: agitate bewilder addle baffle vex lose embroil stick stump baffound bamboozle bedevil befuddle throw bemud bemuse bumfuzzle complicate confound confuddle confuse confuzzle dazzle discombobulate

  2. To make emotionally overwhelmed or visibly embarrassed, especially in a sexual or romantic context.

    1. (by extension) To turn on, to make horny.

  3. To make (someone) feel flushed and hot through drinking alcoholic beverages; also, to make (someone) slightly drunk or tipsy.
    • Three lads of Cypres, noble ſvvelling ſpirits, / That hold their honour, in a vvary diſtance, / The very Elements of this vvarlike Iſle, / Haue I tonight fluſtred vvith flovving cups, / And the vvatch too: novv mongſt...
    • His practice of flustering himself daily with claret was hardly considered as a fault by his contemporaries. - 1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XX, in The History of England from the Accession of James the...
    • [S]ome [letters] are composed in a high state of vinous excitement, when his head is flustered with Burgundy, and his heart abounds with amorous warmth for his darling Prue: some are under the influence of the dismal...
  4. To be agitated and confused; to bustle.
    • He seemed to fluster when speaking in front of many people.
    • [H]e broke out upon Mrs. Sumfit: "Now, then, mother!" which caused her to fluster guiltily, […] - 1865, George Meredith, “Rhoda Pledges Her Hand”, in Rhoda Fleming. […], volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], →OCLC,...
    • A little bit before morning the Dutch gunboat come flustering up, and the two ships stood together watching the lights burn out and out, till there was nothing left 'cept Flores Straits, all green and wet, and a dozen...
  5. To become overwhelmed or visibly embarrassed, especially in a sexual or romantic context.

    1. (by extension) To become turned on, to become horny.

  6. To catch attention; to be showy or splendid.
  7. To boast or brag noisily; to bluster, to swagger.
    • And the Apoſtle [Paul] ſeems here moſt peculiarly to have directed this Encomium of the Gospel, as a Defiance to the Philoſophers of his Time, the Fluſtring Vain-glorious Greeks, vvho pretended ſo much to magnify, and...
  8. Of a seed: to produce a shoot quickly.

Forms

flusters flustering flustered

Synonyms

faze

Derived

flusteration flustered flusterer flustering flusterment flustery flustrate flustration unflusterable unflustered