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puzzle

noun, verb — 12 senses

puzzle

noun

CA, US, UK /ˈpʌzəl/ · AU, NZ /ˈpɐzəl/

Etymology

The verb, of uncertain origin, is attested first. Apparently cognate with Scots pousle, pouzle, poozle (“to trifle; poke or potter around aimlessly; search about with uncertainty”), Saterland Frisian puzelje (“to work hard and continuously”), West Frisian peuzelje (“to trifle, work slowly; eat slowly and daintifully, snack”), Dutch peuzelen (“to perform insignificant work, dawdle; pick at, eat with relish in small pieces, snack”), German Low German pusseln (“to tinker, fiddle; trifle”) and pöseln (“to work hard, toil; to slave away; suffer at work; work slowly and ineffectively”), German posseln, bosseln (“to perform trivial work, tinker”), Danish pusle (“to busy oneself with light work or chores; to be occupied with a task requiring ingenuity, care, and patience; to tinker”), Swedish pyssla (“to do light work; tinker; putter or potter around”), Norwegian Nynorsk pusla, putla (“to potter about”), Faroese putla (“to trifle; potter about; do one's work slowly; be dilatory”), Faroese puss (“damage, trick”). * An early form of the word is pusle, which is similar to Old English puslian (“to pick out the best bits, carefully select, cull”). It is possible that the meaning of the word evolved from “to pick out the best bits”, to “to think long and carefully in bewilderment while choosing what to pick out”, to “to think long and carefully in bewilderment”. However, there is no evidence in Middle English or modern English of any intermediate words with these meanings. * Alternatively, it has been suggested that the word is from pose (“(obsolete) to interrogate, question”) + -le (frequentative suffix). However, the Oxford English Dictionary notes that early forms of the word are all spelled with -u-, and that a sound change in Middle English from ō to u “is not easily accounted for”. * Finally, it has been suggested that the past participle form of the word is attested by Middle English poselet. This is thought to be unlikely by the Oxford English Dictionary as poselet is attested in only one quotation with the meaning “jostled, pushed”, which does not have any connection with the current senses of the word. The noun appears to be derived from the verb.

1

The state of feeling confused or mystified because one cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; bewilderment, confusion; (countable) often in in a puzzle: an instance of this.

  • Certainly, Men in Great Fortunes, are ſtrangers to themſelues, and vvhile they are in the puſle of buſineſſe, they haue no time to tend their Health, either of Body, or Minde.1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Great Place”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, pages 55–56:
  • She stopt, felt herself getting into a puzzle, and could not be prevailed on to add another word, not by dint of several minutes of supplication and waiting.1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter III, in Mansfield Park: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 66:
1 more example
  • My lady—your ladyship. It sounds very strange, and as if it was not natural. I never thought of it before; but, now you have named it, I am all in a puzzle.1851–1853, [Elizabeth Gaskell], “‘Your Ladyship’”, in Cranford. […], 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], published 1853, →OCLC, page 145:
2

A thing such as a complicated matter or a problem which is difficult to make sense of or understand; also, a person who is difficult to make sense of or understand; an enigma.

  • Where he went after he left the house is a puzzle.
  • To the laſt puzzle propounded, vvhether theſe Archei [vital forces believed to be responsible for alchemical reactions within living bodies] be ſo many ſprigs of the common Soul of the vvorld, or particular ſubſiſtencies of themſelves; there is no great inconvenience in acknovvledging that it may be either vvay.1655, Henry More, chapter XI, in An Antidote against Atheism, or, An Appeal to the Naturall Faculties of the Minde of Man, whether There Be Not a God. … The Second Edition Corrected and Enlarged: With an Appendix thereunto Annexed., 2nd edition, London: […] J. Flesher, and are to be sold by William Morden […], →OCLC, book III, page 376:
4 more examples
  • About the painting I have a great puzzle in my head between [George] Vertue, Mr. D'Urry, and Bishop Tanner [Thomas Tanner?].1760 September 2 (date written), Thomas Gray, “[Essays.] Letter to [Horace] Walpole on His ‘Lives of the Painters’.”, in Edmund Gosse, editor, The Works of Thomas Gray in Prose and Verse. […], volume I (Poems, Journals, and Essays), London: Macmillan and Co., published 1884, →OCLC, page 306:
  • He is a puzzle to the servants, who are fearful of being too obsequious, or not civil enough, to him.1833, Elia [pseudonym; Charles Lamb], “Poor Relations”, in The Last Essays of Elia. […], London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 11:
  • He went away on the word, leaving me with a new mystery to think of, a new puzzle to grapple with.1897, Bram Stoker, “Dr. Seward’s Diary—continued”, in Dracula, New York, N.Y.: Modern Library, →OCLC, chapter XIII, page 182:
  • Woman's heart and mind are insoluble puzzles to the male. Murder might be condoned or explained, and yet some smaller offence might rankle.1924 November 8, Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of the Illustrious Client”, in The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, published June 1927, →OCLC, pages 21–22:
3

Often preceded by a descriptive word: a game or toy, or a problem, requiring some effort to complete or work out, which is intended as a pastime and/or to test one's mental ability.

  • crossword puzzle    jigsaw puzzle
  • Upon the whole, he [a person in a cave] looked not unlike that ingenious puzzle, called a reel in a bottle, the marvel of children, (and of some grown people too, myself for one,) who can neither comprehend the mystery how it has got in, or how it is to be taken out.1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], “More Explanation”, in Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 248:
1 more example
  • Among other monstrosities in this lumber room was a largeish black japanned box, excellently and ingeniously made some sixty or seventy years ago, and fitted with every imaginable object. […] Everything was perfectly new, and the whole thing, when shut up, was as big as a small, but fat week-end bag. And inside, it fitted together like a puzzle.1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XI, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC, pages 241–242:
4

Hobbies, Hunting, Lifestyle Abbreviation, Obsolete Short for puzzle-peg (“a piece of wood secured under a dog's jaw to keep the dog's nose away from the ground so that it uses the scent in the air to track its quarry, and to prevent the dog from tearing the quarry once found”).

  • So I ſent for a carpenter, on the receipt of your recipe, and had a large Puzzle of Oak made for him [a dog], after the pattern of thoſe vvorn by the Squire's Pointers; and I have found it anſvver prodigiouſly.1791, Caleb Cassock [pseudonym], “Letter the First”, in Geoffrey Gambado [pseudonym; Henry Bunbury], Annals of Horsemanship: Containing Accounts of Accidental Experiments, and Experimental Accidents, both Successful and Unsuccessful: […], London: […] W[illiam] Dickinson, […]; S. Hooper, […]; and J. Archer, and R. White, […], →OCLC, pages 1–2:
Derived terms
32 termsbefuzzle, bepuzzle, confuzzle, empuzzle, lawyer's puzzle, metapuzzle, monkey puzzle, piece of the puzzle, puzzle box, puzzle canon, puzzle cube, puzzledom, puzzle feeder, puzzlefest, puzzle game, puzzlehead, puzzleheaded, puzzlehunt, puzzle jug, puzzleless, puzzlelike, puzzle lock, puzzlemaster, Puzzle Palace, puzzle-peg, puzzle ring, puzzlery, puzzlesome, puzzlewit, puzzlist, subpuzzle, unpuzzle
Hyponyms
15 puzzle, burr puzzle, Chinese finger puzzle, Chinese puzzle, crossword puzzle, xword puzzle, floor puzzle, food puzzle, jigsaw puzzle, Parsons puzzle, twisty puzzle, vanishing puzzle, zigsaw puzzle

puzzle

verb
Etymology

The verb, of uncertain origin, is attested first. Apparently cognate with Scots pousle, pouzle, poozle (“to trifle; poke or potter around aimlessly; search about with uncertainty”), Saterland Frisian puzelje (“to work hard and continuously”), West Frisian peuzelje (“to trifle, work slowly; eat slowly and daintifully, snack”), Dutch peuzelen (“to perform insignificant work, dawdle; pick at, eat with relish in small pieces, snack”), German Low German pusseln (“to tinker, fiddle; trifle”) and pöseln (“to work hard, toil; to slave away; suffer at work; work slowly and ineffectively”), German posseln, bosseln (“to perform trivial work, tinker”), Danish pusle (“to busy oneself with light work or chores; to be occupied with a task requiring ingenuity, care, and patience; to tinker”), Swedish pyssla (“to do light work; tinker; putter or potter around”), Norwegian Nynorsk pusla, putla (“to potter about”), Faroese putla (“to trifle; potter about; do one's work slowly; be dilatory”), Faroese puss (“damage, trick”). * An early form of the word is pusle, which is similar to Old English puslian (“to pick out the best bits, carefully select, cull”). It is possible that the meaning of the word evolved from “to pick out the best bits”, to “to think long and carefully in bewilderment while choosing what to pick out”, to “to think long and carefully in bewilderment”. However, there is no evidence in Middle English or modern English of any intermediate words with these meanings. * Alternatively, it has been suggested that the word is from pose (“(obsolete) to interrogate, question”) + -le (frequentative suffix). However, the Oxford English Dictionary notes that early forms of the word are all spelled with -u-, and that a sound change in Middle English from ō to u “is not easily accounted for”. * Finally, it has been suggested that the past participle form of the word is attested by Middle English poselet. This is thought to be unlikely by the Oxford English Dictionary as poselet is attested in only one quotation with the meaning “jostled, pushed”, which does not have any connection with the current senses of the word. The noun appears to be derived from the verb.

8 senses
  1. 1To cause (oneself or someone, or their mind, etc.) to…
  2. 2To use (one's brain or mind) to try to work out a…
  3. 3To (intentionally) make (something) complicated or…
  4. 4To cause (someone) to not know what to do due to some…
  5. 5Often followed by about, over, or upon: to feel confused…
  6. 6Often followed by about, over, or or upon: to think…
  7. 7To search in a confused or mystified manner.
  8. 8Followed by through: to solve a complicated matter, a…
1

Also To cause (oneself or someone, or their mind, etc.) to feel confused or mystified because they cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; to confuse, to mystify, to perplex.

Often passive voice

  • Mens daily occaſions for themſelves or friends, and the neceſities of common life, require the doing of a thouſand things vvithin the compaſs of a fevv dayes, for vvhich it vvould puzzle the beſt Textman that liveth; readily to bethink himself of a ſentence in the Bible, clear enough to ſatisfie a ſcrupulous conſcience of the lavvfulneſs and expediency of vvhat he is about to do; […]1634 August 31 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), Robert Sanderson, “[Ad Clerum.] The Fourth Sermon. At a Metropolitical Visitation at Grantham, Lincoln, 22 August 1634.”, in XXXIV Sermons. […], 5th edition, London: […] [A. Clark] for A. Seil, and are to be sold by G. Sawbridge, […], published 1671, →OCLC, paragraph 15, page 65:
  • [H]e has a very ſmart VVit, and is a very ſhrevvd Diſputant in thoſe Points himſelf ſeems moſt puzzled in, and is therein very dexterous in puzzling others, if they be not thorough-paced Speculators in thoſe great Theories.1668, Franciscus Euistor the Palæopolite [pseudonym; Henry More], “The First Dialogue”, in Divine Dialogues, Containing Sundry Disquisitions & Instructions Concerning the Attributes of God and His Providence in the World. […], London: […] James Flesher, →OCLC, paragraph II, page 7:
4 more examples
  • Nor is it sufficient that a man, who sets up for a judge in criticism, should have perused the authors above-mentioned, unless he has also a clear and logical head. Without this talent he is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders, mistakes the sense of those he would confute, or, if he chances to think right, does not know how to convey his thoughts to another with clearness and perspicuity.1712 February 12 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “FRIDAY, February 2, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 291; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 451:
  • After they had puzzled themſelves here, as I ſaid, tvvo or three Days, one of the Lieutenants and a Man vvith him, ſeeing a Hut or Houſe of a Chilian at ſome Diſtance, rode avvay tovvards it; […]1725, [Daniel Defoe], “Part II”, in A New Voyage Round the World, by a Course Never Sailed before. […], London: […] A[rthur] Bettesworth, […]; and W. Mears, […], →OCLC, page 157:
  • This ſort of Arguments I have alvvays found dry and jejune; and, as they are not ſuited to my vvay of Thinking, they may perhaps puzzle, but never vvill convince me.1732, George Berkeley, “The Fourth Dialogue”, in Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. […], volume I, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, section II, page 208:
  • Vain ſcience! thou aſſiſts us in no caſe of this kind—and thou puzzleſt us in every one.1762, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XXIX, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume VI, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […], →OCLC, page 117:
2

To use (one's brain or mind) to try to work out a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; also, to try to work out (a complicated matter, a problem, etc.).

  • VVhich puſles the braine, and doth confound the ſence, / VVhich makes vs rather beare thoſe euilles vve haue, / Than flie to others that vve knovv knot of.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell, published 1603, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], signature E, recto:
  • VVhat haſt thou to do vvith Thought? Mind thy ovvn Buſineſs, and never puzzle thy Noddle vvith Thought.1722 October 12 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Susanna Cent-livre, The Artifice. A Comedy. […], London: […] T[homas] Payne, […], published 1723, →OCLC, Act III, scene [i], page 36:
3 more examples
  • […] I can't deny the mark upon his cheek, though I may puzzle the question between right and left. He may, or he may not, be Demetrius: […]a. 1812 (date written), Richard Cumberland, “The False Demetrius”, in Frances Marianne [Cumberland] Jansen, editor, The Posthumous Dramatick Works of the Late Richard Cumberland, Esq. […], volume II, London: […] [F]or G[eorge] and W[illiam] Nicol, […]; by W[illiam] Bulmer and Co., […], published 1813, →OCLC, Act II, scene [ii], page 365:
  • Every time a woman wants to do well by her darling, she puzzles her brain to cipher out some scheme for getting it into my hands.1870–1871 (date written), Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XV, in Roughing It, Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company [et al.], published 1872, →OCLC, page 124:
  • Though I was angry with old Cotter for alluding to me as a child I puzzled my head to extract meaning from his unfinished sentences.1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “The Sisters”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 11:
3

Obsolete To (intentionally) make (something) complicated or confused, and so difficult to resolve or understand; to confuse, to complicate.

  • [T]hey are theſe Talkative Fools, vvhoſe Religion is only in vvord, and are debauched and vain in their Converſation, that (being ſo much admitted into the fellovv-ſhip of the godly) do puzzle the VVorld, blemiſh Chriſtianity, and grieve the ſincere.1680, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], 5th edition, Edinburgh: […] Iohn Cairns, […], →OCLC, page 83:
  • [H]e vvas heard vvith great attention, though his Parts vvere moſt prevalent in puzzling and perplexing that diſcourſe he meant to croſs.1702, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, book II, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], volume I, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater, page 110:
2 more examples
  • The VVays of Heav'n are dark and intricate, / Puzzled in Mazes, and perplext vvith Errors; / Our Underſtanding traces 'em in vain, / Loſt and bevvilder’d in the fruitleſs Search; […]1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
  • Now this indifference puzzled Lady Penelope's game extremely, and irritated her desire to get at the bottom of Tyrrel's mystery, if there was one, and secure him to her own party.1823 December 23 (indicated as 1824), [Walter Scott], “Table-talk”, in St Ronan’s Well. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 123:
4

Obsolete To cause (someone) to not know what to do due to some problem, situation, etc.; to bewilder, to confound, to perplex.

Chiefly passive voice

  • I ſay there is no darkneſſe but ignorance, in vvhich thou art more puzel'd then the Ægyptians in their fogge.c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 271, column 1:
  • [W]e found ground at forty fadomes, many Snakes ſvvimming about our ſhips, vvhich (vvith the vvaters changing colour) aſſured us vve vvere neere the ſhoare (the laſt ſtorme had puzled us) […]1638, Tho[mas] Herbert, “[First Sight of India]”, in Some Yeares Travels Into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique. […], 2nd edition, London: […] R[ichard] Bi[sho]p for Iacob Blome and Richard Bishop, →OCLC, book I, page 34:
2 more examples
  • Benevolence? vvhich ſhall I be benevolent to; or vvhich firſt? I am puſſell'd in the choice.1641 or 1642 (first performance), Richard Brome, A Joviall Crew: Or, The Merry Beggars. Presented in a Comedie, […], London: […] J[ames] Y[oung] for E[dward] D[od] and N[athaniel] E[kins] […], published 1652, →OCLC, Act III, signature [H4], recto:
  • VVhen the Turtle come aſhore, the Man that vvatches for them turns them on their backs, then hales them above high vvater mark, and leave them till the morning. A large Green Turtle vvith her vveight and ſtruggling vvill puzzle 2 Men to turn her.1697, William Dampier, chapter V, in A New Voyage Round the World. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], →OCLC, page 105:
5

Often followed by about, over, or upon: to feel confused or mystified because one cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.

6

Often followed by about, over, or or upon: to think deeply in bewilderment to try to work out a complicated matter, a problem, etc.

  • We puzzled over the curious-shaped lock, but were unable to discover how the key should be inserted.
  • [B]oth I my ſelfe and divers vvhom I knovv, have pored and puſled vpon many an old Record and Evidence to ſatisfie our ſelves herein: […]1605, M. N. [pseudonym; William Camden], “Surnames”, in Remaines of a Greater Worke, Concerning Britaine, […], London: […] G[eorge] E[ld] for Simon Waterson, →OCLC, page 93:
1 more example
  • [O]ur Advocate, vvho puzzling on, betvveen his true and falſe Gods, hangs, like a falſe Teacher as he is, betvveen Heaven and Earth, in the Fool's Paradiſe of Pagan Philoſophy.1741, William Warburton, “Section VIII”, in The Divine Legation of Moses […], volume II, part II, London: […] Fletcher Gyles, […], →OCLC, book V, page 35:
7

To search in a confused or mystified manner.

  • But what, are you puzzling in your pockets to seek your only memorial among old play bills, letters requesting a meeting of the Faculty, rules of the Speculative Society, syllabus' of lectures—all the miscellaneous contents of a young lawyer's pocket, which contains every thing but brieves and bank-notes?1818 July 25, Jedediah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], “I. Being Introductory.”, in Tales of My Landlord, Second Series, […] (The Heart of Mid-Lothian), volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Company, →OCLC, page 45:
8

Followed by through: to solve a complicated matter, a problem, etc., by working through confusing or difficult matters.

Derived terms
bepuzzle, empuzzle, puzzleation, puzzled, puzzlement, puzzle-monkey, puzzle out, puzzle over, puzzler, puzzle through, puzzlewit, puzzling, unpuzzle

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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