welter

Noun

1. A general confusion or muddle, especially of a large number of items.
2. A tossing or rolling about.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To roll around; to wallow.
2. (figuratively, intransitive) To revel, luxuriate.
3. (intransitive) To rise and fall, to tumble over, to roll.

Adj

Heavyweight. (of horsemen)

Verb

To wither; to wilt.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwɛltɚ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: welteren

Cognate with Old Norse: velta

Cognate with Danish: vælte

Cognate with German: wälzen

Cognate with Gothic: 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽

Cognate with Latin: volvō

In summary

From Middle English welteren, equivalent to welt + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognates include German Low German weltern (“to wallow; roll”), Old Norse velta (Danish vælte), German wälzen, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (waltjan). Akin to wallow and Latin volvō.

Synonyms

wallow

smother

roll

clutter

confusion

turmoil

flurry

roll about

jumble

muddle

mare’s nest

fuddle

tumble

mix up

disarray

discomfiture

discomposure

disorder

disturbance

embroilment

flounder

fluster

flutter

fogginess

force

gathering

group

grovel

host

hugger mugger

intersection

knot

🪢

mire

mob

muck

mud

muss

number

🔢

outbreak

pack

party

🥳

perplexity

perturbation

platoon

pother

restlessness

riot

roll over

row

rub