Well, I am pleased to report my instinct proved sound:

Main Entry: sham·ble
Pronunciation: 'sham-b&l
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): sham·bled; sham·bling /-b(&-)li[ng]/
Etymology: shamble bowed, malformed
Date: 1681
: to walk awkwardly with dragging feet : SHUFFLE



Main Entry: sham·bles
Pronunciation: 'sham-b&lz
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Etymology: Middle English shameles, plural of schamel vendor's table, footstool, from Old English sceamol stool, from Latin scamillum, diminutive of scamnum stool, bench; perhaps akin to Sanskrit skambha pillar
Date: 15th century
1 archaic : a meat market
2 : SLAUGHTERHOUSE
3 a : a place of mass slaughter or bloodshed b : a scene or a state of great destruction : WRECKAGE c (1) : a scene or a state of great disorder or confusion (2) : great confusion : MESS

Both entries are from Webster's Collegiate on-line. The second reflects a root meaning of toppled stools and benches or broken pillars, while the first has its core meaning in "stooped" or "bowed", which characterizes the sort of walk described.

They could have a common ancestor, but it is way back there!


A