kerfuffle

[ ker-fuhf-uhl ]
See synonyms for kerfuffle on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Informal. a fuss; commotion.

Origin of kerfuffle

1
First recorded in 1945–50; from Scots curfuffle, from cur- (from Scottish Gaelic car “a turn,” from Old Irish cor ) + fuffle “to disorder, confuse” (of imitative origin)

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British Dictionary definitions for kerfuffle

kerfuffle

carfuffle or kurfuffle

/ (kəˈfʌfəl) /


noun
  1. informal, mainly British commotion; disorder; agitation

verb
  1. (tr) Scot to put into disorder or disarray; ruffle or disarrange

Origin of kerfuffle

1
from Scottish curfuffle, carfuffle, from Scottish Gaelic car twist, turn + fuffle to disarrange

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012