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1.a.i.
1592–
intransitive. In early use, to stumble (cf. founder v.). Subsequently, to struggle violently and clumsily; to plunge, roll and tumble about in or as in mire; also (with on, along, etc.), to move on with clumsy or rolling gait, to struggle along with difficulty. Of a horse: To rear, plunge; †to ‘shy’ (at an object).
1592
My foot did slide and..Flundring, almost flat on earth I go.
W. Wyrley, Lord Chandos in True Vse of Armorie 101
a1625
If she flownder with you, Clap spurs on.
J. Fletcher, The Womans Prize: or, The Tamer Tamed ii. vi, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher, Comedies and Tragedies (1647) sig. Ooooov/2
1687
He champs the bit..And starts a-side, and flounders at the cross.
J. Dryden, Hind & Panther iii. 90

Of obscure etymology.

Perhaps an onomatopoeic blending of the sound and sense of various earlier words; compare founder v. (Old French fondrer), blunder v., and the many verbs with initial fl- expressing impetuous and clumsy movements. Wedgwood and Skeat compare Dutch flodderen, to flounder in mire, to flop about: see the dialectal flodder v., which may have affected the development of the present word.