Obs. In 4 clomse, 5 cloumse. [ME. clumsen found in 13th c., perh. represents an OE. *clumsian, on the type of rótsian to be cheerful, hlǽnsian to make lean, etc. But it may be of Norse origin: cf. mod.Norw. klumsa, intensive of kluma, to make motionless, speechless, lame, etc. Simpler forms of the same root appear in EFris. klömen to be numb with cold, WFris. klomjen, LG. klömen, klomen, klaomen, Du. kleumen, Sw. klömen; also, in comp., MG. verklummen, MDu. verkleumen, verkloemen. The stem klum- is in ablaut relation to klam- in CLAM and CLEM, the radical notion being that of ‘confinement, constraint, constriction,’ which, in this group, is esp. referred to the stiffening action of cold.]
1. intr. To be or become stiff or numb with cold.
c. 1360. Song Mercy, 176, in E. E. P. (1862), 123. For Merlions feet ben colde Hit is heore kuynde … A quik brid to haue and holde From foot to foot to flytte and folde To kepe hire from clomesyng.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 50. Whan þow clomsest for colde or clyngest for drye.
2. trans. To stupefy, amaze, daze (in mind).
c. 1440. York Myst., xxiii. 201. Þat clowde cloumsed vs clene, þat come schynand so clere.
