Where did the word kerfuffle come from?

The root of “kerfuffle” is the very old Scots verb “fuffle,” which first appeared in print in the early 16th century and means “to throw into disorder.” The Oxford English Dictionary suggests that the “ker” part of “kerfuffle” may hare come from the Gaelic word “car,” meaning “to twist, bend or turn around.” In the ...
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When was the word kerfuffle first used?

The first known use of kerfuffle was in 1908.
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Is kerfuffle a British word?

Chiefly British Informal. a fuss; commotion.
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What does kerfuffle mean in Yiddish?

About the Word:

Kerfuffle means "disturbance or fuss," often describing a situation that's received more attention than it deserves.
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Is kerfuffle a slang word?

Kerfuffle is a humorous-sounding word for a mostly non-humorous situation: some kind of disturbance, scandal or mess. However, a kerfuffle usually isn't 100% serious.
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Kerfuffle's a funny word. What are its origins?



Do Americans say kerfuffle?

Transatlantic trade in English words isn't just one-way

KORY STAMPER, an editor at Merriam-Webster, wrote on Google Plus that "kerfuffle" was a word she had used all her life before reading in a number of American dictionaries that it is British in origin.
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Is kerfuffle a Canadian word?

Kerfuffle. Originally a British slang word, Kerfuffle is used in Canada to refer to a disturbance, commotion, argument, or fight caused by conflict.
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What does Putz mean in Yiddish?

Noun. Yiddish puts, literally, "finery, show," probably from putsn "to clean, shine"; akin to German putzen "to adorn, clean"
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What does Collywobbles mean in British slang?

collywobbles in British English

(ˈkɒlɪˌwɒbəlz ) plural noun. the collywobbles slang. 1. an upset stomach.
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Where did the term Malarkey come from?

According to Oxford Dictionaries, malarkey is "meaningless talk; nonsense," it came into use in the 1920s and its specific origin is unknown. There is an Irish name — Mullarkey. But a connection from the name to the word hasn't been established.
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Where does the phrase Dilly Dally come from?

We've also got "dilly-dally." The base word "dally" came in from Old French hundreds of years ago and meant to chat idly. Over time "dally" picked up other meanings such as to toy with things or spend time idly. By the 19th century we get "dilly dally." "Dilly dally" is an example of reduplication.
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What does Canoodle mean in slang?

canoodle • \kuh-NOO-dul\ • verb. : to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing. Examples: Chaperones watched for couples attempting to sneak under the gymnasium's bleachers to canoodle. "
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Is it Godsmack or gobsmacked?

Gobsmacked is British slang that dates from the 1980s and while people who are gobsmacked are often rendered speechless, its literal meaning is “hit in the mouth.” Gob is British slang for mouth—even if you are American, you probably remember that from the children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
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Is kerfuffle in the Oxford dictionary?

kerfuffle noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com.
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Where is the word kerfuffle used?

You will most commonly come across this wonderfully expressive word for a commotion or fuss in Britain and the British Commonwealth countries. It is rather informal, though it often appears in newspapers.
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Where did the term flabbergasted come from?

The origin of the verb is uncertain; possibly dialectal (Suffolk), from flabby or flap (“to strike”) + aghast. The word may be related to Scottish flabrigast (“to boast”) or flabrigastit (“worn out with exertion”). The noun is derived from the verb.
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What's the weirdest word in the English language?

Here are the 12 weirdest words in English:
  • Vex.
  • Bequeath.
  • Mixology.
  • Flub.
  • [
  • Bibble.
  • Kakorrhaphiophobia.
  • Berserk.
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What is a Gollywobble?

gollywobbler in American English

(ˈɡɑliˌwɑblər) Nautical. a very large quadrilateral staysail set between the foremast and mainmast of a schooner.
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What is Jim Jam?

jimjams. / (ˈdʒɪmˌdʒæmz) / pl n. a slang word for delirium tremens. a state of nervous tension, excitement, or anxiety.
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What is a female schmuck?

0. Share. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Schmuck, or shmuck, is a pejorative term meaning one who is stupid or foolish, or an obnoxious, contemptible or detestable person.
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What is a schlemiel Yiddish?

Schlemiel (Yiddish: שלומיאל; sometimes spelled shlemiel or shlumiel) is a Yiddish term meaning "inept/incompetent person" or "fool". It is a common archetype in Jewish humor, and so-called "schlemiel jokes" depict the schlemiel falling into unfortunate situations.
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What does schlep mean in Yiddish?

The verb comes from the German sleppen, adopted with that meaning in the Yiddish schlepn or schlep, meaning “to drag, haul, lug.” “In Yiddish, the verb shlep is standard,” the lexicographer Sol Steinmetz, who spells the verb without the c, informs me, “with the literal meaning of 'a pull, drag or jerk.
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Why do people say Chesterfield?

For decades in the 20th century, "chesterfield" was a shibboleth of Canadian English. Canadians, and only Canadians, called a multi-seated upholstered piece of furniture a chesterfield rather than a couch or a sofa.
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What is a bunny hug in Canada?

Bunny hug. The “bunny hug” is a particularly Saskatchewan term for what people elsewhere in Canada might call a “hoodie” – a hooded sweatshirt with a big pocket on the front. One of the first mentions of a “bunny hug” sweater is from 1978.
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How do Canadians say beer?

What Do They Call Beers In Canada? Two-four. As the name implies, a case of 24 beers is commonly referred to as this. On your way to the party, don't be surprised if your friend asks you to pick up one.
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