Puzzle, n.
Etymology: [For opposal, in the sense of problem. See Oppose, Pose, v.]
1. Something which perplexes or embarrasses; especially, a toy or a problem contrived for testing ingenuity; also, something exhibiting marvelous skill in making.
2. The state of being puzzled; perplexity; as, to be in a puzzle.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Puzzle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Puzzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Puzzling.]
1. To perplex; to confuse; to embarrass; to put to a stand; to nonplus. A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous in puzzling others. Dr. H. More. He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders. Addison.
2. To make intricate; to entangle. They disentangle from the puzzled skein. Cowper. The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate, Puzzled in mazes, and perplexed with error. Addison.
3. To solve by ingenuity, as a puzzle; -- followed by out; as, to puzzle out a mystery.
Syn. -- To embarrass; perplex; confuse; bewilder; confound. See Embarrass.
Puzzle, v. i.
1. To be bewildered, or perplexed. A puzzling fool, that heeds nothing. L'Estrange.
2. To work, as at a puzzle; as, to puzzle over a problem.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for puzzle; he lists it under riddle.
Where he writes about it:
Conundrum, a word of unknown origin, signifies some question or statement in which some hidden and fanciful resemblance is involved, the answer often depending upon a pun; an enigma is a dark saying; a paradox is a true statement that at first appears absurd or contradictory; a problem is something thrown out for solution; puzzle (from oppose) referred originally to the intricate arguments by which disputants opposed each other in the old philosophic schools. — from riddle
The riddle is an ambiguous or paradoxical statement with a hidden meaning to be guessed by the mental acuteness of the one to whom it is proposed; the riddle is not so petty as the conundrum, and may require much acuteness for its answer; a problem may require simply study and scholarship, as a problem in mathematics; a puzzle may be in something other than verbal statement, as a dissected map or any perplexing mechanical contrivance. — from riddle
Both enigma and puzzle may be applied to any matter difficult of answer or solution, enigma conveying an idea of greater dignity, puzzle applying to something more commonplace and mechanical; there are many dark enigmas in human life and in the course of providence; the location of a missing object is often a puzzle. — from riddle