founder

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   stumble and nearly fall

   the horses foundered

2. 2
   noun

   One who founds or establishes (a company, project, organisation, state, etc.).

   The founder of Facebook is Mark Zuckerberg.

3. 3
   noun

   A common ancestor of some population (especially one with a certain genetic mutation).

   a founder population

4. 4
   noun

   The iron worker in charge of the blast furnace and the smelting operation.

   The term 'founder' was applied in the British iron industry long afterwards to the ironworker in charge of the blast furnace and the smelting operation.

5. 5
   noun

   One who casts metals in various forms; a caster.

   a founder of cannon, bells, hardware, or printing types

6. 6
   verb

   To flood with water and sink.

   We were not much more than a quarter of an hour out of our ship but we saw her sink, and then I understood for the first time what was meant by a ship foundering in the sea.

7. 7
   verb

   To fail; to miscarry.

   All his tricks founder.

8. 8
   verb

   To cause to flood and sink, as a ship.

   We found a strong Tide setting out of the Streights to the Northward, and like to founder our Ship.

Etymology

From Middle French fondrer (“send to the bottom”), from Latin fundus (“bottom”).