First attested in English in 1646: from
Latin ambilaevus (
ambi- (“both”) +
laevus (“left”)), a
calque of Ancient Greek
ἀμφαρίστερος (ampharisteros, “with two left hands, awkward, clumsy”) from
ἀμφί (amphi, “on both sides”) +
ἀριστερός (aristeros, “left”).