GalacticCactus Forum
Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: pooka on April 25, 2011, 11:40:33 AM
-
There was a big event at the U this past week called Kerfuffle 2011. At first I thought they must have misspelled it, and the people decided to just use the signs rather than send them back. But then I saw the printed poster also spelled it that way. I just googled kerfuffle and kerfluffle and google asked me "did you mean kerfuffle" about kerfluffle. Have you guys encountered this word before, and is kerfuffle really the standard?
-
As far as I can tell, kerfuffle is indeed standard (or at least more common), but I think I've always heard kerfluffle too.
-
Me too.
-
I've only heard kerfuffle.
-
I've only heard kerfuffle. Also, I think rhubarb as it pertains to commotions needs to come back.
-
rhubarb as it pertains to commotions
Huh?
-
Also, I think rhubarb as it pertains to commotions needs to come back.
Those all look like real words, but I have no idea what it means.
-
I also thought it was kerfluffle.
-
commotions
Also, I think rhubarb as it pertains to commotions needs to come back.
Those all look like real words, but I have no idea what it means.
Kerfuffle made me think of slightly older words that have fallen out of use. Rhubarb, (a word that means a commotion) is another such word, and I wish it had more currency today.
edit: Rhubarb is also a plant.
-
I wondered if we all might have been influenced by some prolific poster on Hatrack, but the search there didn't find anything. Which puzzles me.
-
Okay, ak credited Olivet with coining kerfluffle in 2003. The Google search of Hatrack didn't find it, but the actual forum search app found several citings, including me. Ironically, I applied it to Anne Kate's adoption thing.
-
Why would she credit her with coining it?
-
I don't know. Kerfuffle only dates to 1930, though. Storm Saxon also commented on kerfluffle. It's such a cute sounding word, I hope it doesn't turn out to mean something really troubling, like snafu.
-
I knew that term before I started on the fora in 2003. Not a chance I got it from Olivet.
-
Rhubarb, (a word that means a commotion) is another such word, and I wish it had more currency today.
edit: Rhubarb is also a plant.
To me, it's just a plant (and food). I've never heard it used any other way.
-
Me too.
-
Right because it has fallen out of favor, I wish it would make a come back.
-
I totally thought you were making that up until I checked it out in the dictionary.
-
I totally thought you were making that up until I checked it out in the dictionary.
I never make things up!
-
Uh huh.
-
Rhubarb. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VZtlQ2mvaQ)
-
:( The blonde looks a lot like my ex, Megan.
Which one is Nemoy?
-
The one listening from behind the door at the start.
I guess it's not a speaking role, but he does pick up the cat.
-
I guess I see it in his face, but not really.
The cat won an "Oscar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Award)" though!
-
He's the one who stands up at 4:53. He has two lines in that scene.
-
I've only heard kerfuffle.
Ditto. Y'all wanting to add an extra l mystify me.
And I am familiar with "rhubarb" as a synonym, but only as a fairly obsolete one.