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kerfuffle
DCHP-3 (May 2024)
Older forms are carfuffle and curfuffle.
n. — Informal
commotion or discord, often caused by disagreement.
Type: 2. Preservation — Kerfuffle is originally a Scottish term, attested as curfuffle in 1813 (OED-3, s.v. "curfuffle"). Its forms with the letter k date back to at least 1946 as kafuffle (OED-3, s.v. "kerfuffle"). As displayed in Chart 1, this term appears to be a Canadianism in the North American context by virtue of frequency in comparison with the very low US occurrence.
In COD-2, s.v. "kerfuffle" is described as "(also kafuffle)" and labelled "Cdn, Brit., & Austral. informal " with a definition of "a fuss or commotion". It is listed in Gage-5, s.v. "kafuffle", and CCD-2010, s.v. "kerfuffle"; it is not listed in FWSCD-82 or ITP Nelson.
It is included in W-2, s.v. "carfuffle", in W-3, s.v. "kerfuffle" [alter of carfuffle], and in EDD, s.v. "carfuffle".
The term is listed in Merriam-Webster Unabridged; it is not listed in DARE.
In COD-2, s.v. "kerfuffle" is described as "(also kafuffle)" and labelled "Cdn, Brit., & Austral. informal " with a definition of "a fuss or commotion". It is listed in Gage-5, s.v. "kafuffle", and CCD-2010, s.v. "kerfuffle"; it is not listed in FWSCD-82 or ITP Nelson.
It is included in W-2, s.v. "carfuffle", in W-3, s.v. "kerfuffle" [alter of carfuffle], and in EDD, s.v. "carfuffle".
The term is listed in Merriam-Webster Unabridged; it is not listed in DARE.
Quotations
1965
AMS council defrosted the committee's funds after a half-hour kerfuffle between AAC Chairman Mike Coleman and council.
1980
Go back to last fall when Newfoundland's Premier first began making waves, creating a veritable northern cod kerfuffle by insisting Nova Scotians vacate Newfoundland's waters and go fish in their own back ponds.
1999
"I don't understand what the kerfuffle is about, because it's just an honest portrait."
2008
And if you think that putting the brakes on the province's biggest single economic engine after that little kerfuffle is something any premier is going to do without careful (make that prolonged) thought, well, then you've been spending way too much of your spare time listening to New Democratic Leader Brian Mason preach his gospel.
2020
Given the state of other democracies near and far, I'll gladly take a kerfuffle over a charity — recommended by the public service — and reimbursed trip if it means having the steady hand, compassionate vision and strong leadership that the Trudeau government has practised.
2025
Smith was worried the tariff kerfuffle would help the Liberals and hurt her Big Boy Conservative Pierre Poilievre.
References
- OED-3
- Merriam-Webster Unabridged
- DARE
- W-3
- EDD
- COD-2
- W-2
- Gage-5
- FWSCD-82
- ITP Nelson
- CCD-2010
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