History quiz

Where does the expression stumped come from?

The expression "stumped" comes from the world of cricket. In cricket, a batsman can be declared "stumped" if the wicket-keeper behind him removes the bails from the stumps before he can get his bat back to the crease. If this happens, the batsman is declared out.

The term "stumped" has been used in a figurative sense since at least the 1700s. In this sense, it means "to be puzzled, confused, or bewildered". It can also be used to mean "to be unable to do something, or to be unable to think of a way to do something".