Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Fumble

Fumble , intransitive verb

[Akin to Dutch fommelen to crumple, fumble, Swedish fumla to fusuble, famla to grope, Danish famle to grope, fumble, Icelandic falme, Anglo-Saxon folm palm of the hand. See Feel, and compare Fanble, Palm.]

1.
To feel or grope about; to make awkward attempts to do or find something.
Adams now began to fumble in his pockets. — Fielding
2.
To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly; as, to fumble for an excuse. — Dryden
My understanding flutters and my memory fumbles. — Chesterfield
Alas! how he fumbles about the domains. — Wordsworth
3.
To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.
I saw him fumble with the sheets, and play with flowers. — Shakespeare

Fumble , transitive verb

To handle or manage awkwardly; to crowd or tumble together. — Shakespeare