kerfuffle
[ ker-fuhf-uhl ]
/ kərˈfʌf əl /
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noun
Chiefly British Informal. a fuss; commotion.
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Origin of kerfuffle
First recorded in 1945–50; from Scots curfuffle, equivalent to cur- (from Scots Gaelic car “to twist, turn,” from Old Irish cor “a turn) + fuffle “to disorder, confuse” (of imitative origin)
Words nearby kerfuffle
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for kerfuffle
kerfuffle
carfuffle or kurfuffle
/ (kəˈfʌfəl) /
noun
informal, mainly British commotion; disorder; agitation
verb
(tr) Scot to put into disorder or disarray; ruffle or disarrange
Word Origin for kerfuffle
from Scottish curfuffle, carfuffle, from Scottish Gaelic car twist, turn + fuffle to disarrange
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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