Word of the Day: LUMBERING

Ungainly and unwieldy

lumbering (adj) - moving in a heavy and clumsy way [luhm-ber-ing]

• lumbering as a noun refers to the industrial, economic activity of cutting, transporting, and processing timber

• lumber means to move in a slow, plodding, or stumbling manner or to cut down and process trees for commercial use

• lumber as a noun refers to timber prepared for building and construction

• lumbersome means heavy, bulky, and unwieldy

BREAKDOWN: The word lumber is formed from the Swedish loma meaning move slowly or walk heavily. There may be an original connection to the root LEM- meaning to break in pieces in words like lame. Interestingly, the usage of lumber to describe timber cut into planks and boards followed from the original meaning of heavy and clumsy movement on the basis of how awkward wood and furniture are to manage.

“A horse loves freedom, and the weariest old work horse will roll on the ground or break into a lumbering gallop when he is turned loose into the open.” —Gerry Rafferty

[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily or obviously derived from classical roots.]