blindly groping; fumbling in the dark
Literally 'blind groping'; used for searching without visual cues or acting without clear guidance. The term is sensitive and may be considered discriminatory; modern usage often prefers alternatives like 手探り.
I groped blindly for the switch in the dark.
He seemed to be fumbling for an answer without any clue.
Compound of 盲 (めくら, 'blind person', now considered a sensitive term) and 探り (さぐり, 'groping, searching'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word literally means 'blind groping'.