Clumsy, a. [Compar. Clumsier; superl. Clumsiest.]
Etymology: [OE. clumsed benumbed, fr. clumsen to be benumbed; cf. Icel. klumsa lockjaw, dial. Sw. klummsen benumbed with cold. Cf. 1st Clam, and 1st Clamp.]
1. Stiff or benumbed, as with cold. [Obs.]
2. Without skill or grace; wanting dexterity, nimbleness, or readiness; stiff; awkward, as if benumbed; unwieldy; unhandy; hence; ill-made, misshapen, or inappropriate; as, a clumsy person; a clumsy workman; clumsy fingers; a clumsy gesture; a clumsy excuse. But thou in clumsy verse, unlicked, unpointed, Hast shamefully defied the Lord's anointed. Dryden.
Syn. -- See Awkward.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for clumsy; he lists it under awkward.
Where he writes about it:
Clumsy, on the other hand (from clumse, also through the Norwegian), signifies benumbed, stiffened with cold; this is the original meaning of clumsy fingers, clumsy limbs. — from awkward
Thus, awkward primarily refers to action, clumsy to condition. — from awkward
A tool, a vehicle, or the human frame may be clumsy in shape or build, awkward in motion. — from awkward
The clumsy man is almost of necessity awkward, but the awkward man may not be naturally clumsy. — from awkward
The finest untrained colt is awkward in harness; a horse that is clumsy in build can never be trained out of awkwardness. — from awkward
An awkward statement has an uncomfortable, and perhaps recoiling force; a statement that contains ill-assorted and incongruous material in ill-chosen language is clumsy. — from awkward
In none of these cases could clumsy be used. — from awkward
Clumsy is, however, applied to movements that seem as unsuitable as those of benumbed and stiffened limbs. — from awkward