fuddle
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to muddle or confuse.
a jumble of sounds to fuddle the senses.
-
to make drunk; intoxicate.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
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(tr; often passive) to cause to be confused or intoxicated
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(intr) to drink excessively; tipple
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fuddle
First recorded in 1580–90; origin uncertain
Explanation
Use the noun fuddle for a confused or jumbled state. It would be easier to find your favorite shoes if your closet weren't such a fuddle of clothes, boots, and bags. The more common befuddle comes from fuddle, which has a root meaning “worthless cloth,” and was originally defined as "work in a slovenly manner." As a verb, fuddle is used to mean "confuse or stupify." If you stay up all night studying for the math test, your lack of sleep may fuddle you so much that you can't remember all the formulas you tried to memorize!
Vocabulary lists containing fuddle
"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
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Vocabulary from Readings 1, Unit 1
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Vocabulary from Readings 1, Unit 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One pound one thrown into the puddle, To listen to Fiddle, Faddle, and Fuddle!
From The Poetical Works of Thomas Hood by Hood, Thomas
"We had a good dinner at the Fuddle town," said Uncle Henry, "and that will keep us from starving to death for a long time."
From The Emerald City of Oz by Baum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank)
With this admonition, our august Mr. Fuddle, his face glowing in importance, sits down to his mixture of Paul and Brown's best.
From Our World, Or, the Slaveholder's Daughter by Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
And then in your Fuddle, up comes all; what such a Lord told you, and what you told him; and all this Pudder against your Conscience too, even by your own Confession.
From Citt and Bumpkin (1680) by L'Estrange, Sir Roger
A few moments' pause—during which Fetter enters looking very anxious—and the jury have made up their verdict, which they submit on a slip of paper to the clerk, who in turn presents it to Fuddle.
From Our World, Or, the Slaveholder's Daughter by Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
