pother

[poth -er]

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noun

commotion; uproar.

a heated discussion, debate, or argument; fuss; to-do.

a choking or suffocating cloud, as of smoke or dust.

verb (used with or without object)

to worry; bother.

Origin of pother

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for pother

annoyance, flap, agitation, confusion, turmoil, commotion, bother, controversy, uproar, harass, hassle, bustle, ado, stir, flutter, worry, fuss

Examples from the Web for pother

Historical Examples of pother

Why, that here is a deal of pother about some foolish words.
The Strolling Saint
Raphael Sabatini
If you can give no help, spare drowning me with your pother.
St. Ronan's Well
Sir Walter Scott
But the Poltroon with the white wig was not out of his Pother yet.
The Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous, Vol. 2 of 3
George Augustus Sala
Never was a man's life cut short with less solemnity or pother.
The Nabob, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Alphonse Daudet
Now, what is there about Rooney's to inspire all this pother?
Strictly Business
O. Henry

British Dictionary definitions for pother

pother

noun

a commotion, fuss, or disturbance

a choking cloud of smoke, dust, etc

verb

to make or be troubled or upset

Word Origin for pother

C16: of unknown origin

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

Word Origin and History for pother

1590s, "disturbance, commotion," of unknown origin. Meaning "mental trouble" is from 1640s; verb sense of "to fluster" is attested from 1690s.