fudge

1
[ fuhj ]
/ fʌdʒ /
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noun

a soft candy made of sugar, butter, milk, chocolate, and sometimes nuts.

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Origin of fudge

1
1895–1900, Americanism; of uncertain origin; the word was early in its history associated with college campuses, where fudge-making was popular; however, attempts to explain it as a derivative of fudge3 (preparing the candy supposedly being an excuse to “fudge” on dormitory rules) are dubious and probably after-the-fact speculation

Words nearby fudge

fud, fuddle, fuddle-duddle, fuddling cup, fuddy-duddy, fudge, fudge factor, fuegian, fuehrer, fuel, fuel air bomb

Definition for fudge (2 of 3)

fudge2
[ fuhj ]
/ fʌdʒ /

noun

nonsense or foolishness (often used as an interjection).

verb (used without object), fudged, fudg·ing.

to talk nonsense.

Origin of fudge

2
1690–1700; origin uncertain; cf. fudge3

Definition for fudge (3 of 3)

fudge3
[ fuhj ]
/ fʌdʒ /

verb (used without object), fudged, fudg·ing.

to cheat or welsh (often followed by on): to fudge on an exam; to fudge on one's campaign promises.
to avoid coming to grips with something: to fudge on an issue.
to exaggerate a cost, estimate, etc., in order to allow leeway for error.

verb (used with object), fudged, fudg·ing.

to avoid coming to grips with (a subject, issue, etc.); evade; dodge: to fudge a direct question.

noun

Origin of fudge

3
1665–75; origin uncertain; in earliest sense, “to contrive clumsily,” perhaps expressive variant of fadge to fit, agree, do (akin to Middle English feien to put together, join, Old English fēgan); unclear if fudge1 and fudge2 are developments of this word or independent coinages
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to fudge

overstate, falsify, evade, exaggerate, dodge, shuffle, magnify, color, avoid, slant, embellish, patch, stall, pad, hedge, equivocate, embroider

Example sentences from the Web for fudge

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (1 of 3)

fudge1
/ (fʌdʒ) /

noun

a soft variously flavoured sweet made from sugar, butter, cream, etc

Word Origin for fudge

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (2 of 3)

fudge2
/ (fʌdʒ) /

noun

foolishness; nonsense

interjection

a mild exclamation of annoyance

verb

(intr) to talk foolishly or emptily

Word Origin for fudge

C18: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for fudge (3 of 3)

fudge3
/ (fʌdʒ) /

noun

verb

Word Origin for fudge

C19: see fadge
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