fluster

From a Scandinavian (North Germanic) language, akin to Icelandic flaustra (“to be flustered”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈflʌstə/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ʌstə(r)

fluster (third-person singular simple present flusters, present participle flustering, simple past and past participle flustered)

1. (dated) To make hot and rosy, as with drinking.
   • Macaulay

     His habit of flustering himself daily with claret.

2. (by extension) To confuse; befuddle; throw into panic by making overwrought with confusion.

   He seemed to get flustered when speaking in front of too many people.

3. (intransitive) To be in a heat or bustle; to be agitated and confused.
   • South

     the flustering, vainglorious Greeks

• flustered (adjective)
• flustering (adjective, present participle)

fluster (plural flusters)

1. A state of being flustered; overwrought confusion.

• RESTful, fluters, furtles, restful