fodder
[fod-er]
- coarse food for livestock, composed of entire plants, including leaves, stalks, and grain, of such forages as corn and sorghum.
- people considered as readily available and of little value: cannon fodder.
- raw material: fodder for a comedian's routine.
- to feed with or as if with fodder.
Origin of fodder
Synonym study
1. See feed.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fodder
Contemporary Examples
On the downside, it rewards them with fodder for nightmares.
Jimmy Kimmel Pranks Kids (Again), Taylor Swift’s 1989 Aerobics, and More Viral VideosThe Daily Beast Video
November 9, 2014
But, hey, at least Brody gave us one of those TV moments that served as fodder for endless parody!
The Worst Oscar Winners, From ‘Rocky’ and ‘Crash’ to Gwyneth PaltrowKevin Fallon, Marlow Stern
February 26, 2014
It was fodder for all the industry-watchers who recognize the significant revenue stream and sizable audience at stake.
Why Apple’s iTunes Radio Isn’t a Threat to Pandora or Spotify…YetLauren DeLisa Coleman
November 12, 2013
Those once were fighting words, fodder for the culture wars.
Even reality-TV shows such as The Apprentice and Survivor are fodder for the modern college student.
‘50 Shades of Grey’ Is the Subject of a Course at American UniversityRachel Kramer Bussel
December 28, 2012
Historical Examples
We must foller right along, too, or we'll run short of fodder.
Two ArrowsWilliam O. Stoddard
But even if we have fodder enough for them during the winter what are we to do with them?
The Settlers in CanadaFrederick Marryat
For fodder, either green or cured, it is cut before ripening.
Cattle and Their DiseasesRobert Jennings
The Chinese Sugar-Cane also may deserve attention as a fodder plant.
Cattle and Their DiseasesRobert Jennings
He gets his fodder at the proper time, and takes no care about it.
Christian Gellert's Last ChristmasBerthold Auerbach
fodder
- bulk feed for livestock, esp hay, straw, etc
- raw experience or materialfodder for the imagination
- (tr) to supply (livestock) with fodder
Word Origin
Old English fōdor; related to Old Norse fōthr, Old High German fuotar; see food, forage
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for fodder
n.
Old English fodder "food," especially "food for cattle," from Proto-Germanic *fodran (cf. Old Norse foðr, Middle Dutch voeder, Old High German fuotar, German Futter), from PIE *patrom, from *pa- "to feed" (see food).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper