Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stumble, Stummel, Stomble, v. [ME and e.m.E. stumble (c1325), stomble (Manning), stummelyn (Prompt. Parv.), Norw. stumla to grope. Cf. Stum(m)er v.]

1. intr. To stumble, miss one's footing. 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 51.
Lyke a blynde man laking licht thay uanderid heere & there, By ges with groaping stummelling oft

b. fig. Const. at: To find difficulty with. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. ix 32 marg.
Him thai belewit nocht, and sua thai offendit aganis and stomblit at

c. fig. To come in (a place) by chance. 1632 Lithgow Trav. i 33.
It was my lucke to stumble in here againe

2. tr. To upset, disturb (a person or thing); to puzzle, confuse (a person); to overthrow (a person) with regard to his beliefs, etc. Const. at, by, with the cause of difficulty.(1) ?1644 McDowall Dumfries 411.
All the particulars that stumbled his service, as of the carriage of Hartfell … , who refused his Majesty's commission, and debauched our officers 1651 Rutherford Lett.(1894) 664.
A stronger than I am had almost stumbled me and cast me down 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 146.
Certaine innovationes and practices which did much stumble and offend the people 1670 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 445.
There was a practique founded on … which stumbled the Lords 1674 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 211.
Which appears to have stumbled some of the assise, for four of them votis not guilty 1679 Fountainhall Decis. I 39.
The Lords when they came to peruse the depositions, were exceedingly stumbled and ready to decide against the earl(2) 1661 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 707.
Let us … be comforted; and not be stumbled at your ways 1672 Lauder Notices Affairs I 52.
He seimed to be extreemly stumbled at the decision 1676 Brodie Diary in Dunkeld Presb. I 54 n.⁴
I heard that the Chapter and ministers of this Sinod wer stumbld at Mr. Atkins who was namd to be Bishop, and at his excommunication 1685 Marchmont P. III 27.
The Erle seemed exceedingly stumbled at this motion, and after a long pause answered — 1673 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. III 6.
I was stumbled by a resolution I found marked by Hadington in his practiques — 1685 Lauder Observes 221.
We ware also much stumbled with a litle book … called ‘Pax Vobis, or Gospell Liberty’

b. Const. clause object. 1678 Fountainhall Decis. I 15.
Their confessions made many intelligent sober persons stumble much what faith was to be adhibite to them