Author Topic: kerfuffle (Read 5965 times)

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?

Jonathon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:53:02 AM »

As far as I can tell, kerfuffle is indeed standard (or at least more common), but I think I've always heard kerfluffle too.

The Genuine · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2011, 12:06:59 PM »

Me too.

Porter · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2011, 12:42:30 PM »

I've only heard kerfuffle.

BlackBlade · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2011, 02:17:43 PM »

I've only heard kerfuffle. Also, I think rhubarb as it pertains to commotions needs to come back.

Porter · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2011, 04:02:02 PM »

Quote

rhubarb as it pertains to commotions

Huh?

Jonathon · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2011, 04:03:32 PM »

Quote from: BlackBlade on April 25, 2011, 02:17:43 PM

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.

Marianne Dashwood · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2011, 05:28:35 PM »

I also thought it was kerfluffle.

BlackBlade · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2011, 08:15:11 PM »

commotions

Quote from: Jonathon on April 25, 2011, 04:03:32 PM

Quote from: BlackBlade on April 25, 2011, 02:17:43 PM
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.

pooka · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2011, 08:30:50 PM »

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.

pooka · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2011, 08:51:02 PM »

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.

Jonathon · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2011, 09:26:26 PM »

Why would she credit her with coining it?

pooka · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2011, 10:01:34 PM »

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.

The Genuine · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2011, 10:35:48 PM »

I knew that term before I started on the fora in 2003. Not a chance I got it from Olivet.

Porter · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2011, 07:44:53 AM »

Quote

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.

The Genuine · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2011, 07:51:42 AM »

Me too.

BlackBlade · « **Reply #16 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:07:34 AM »

Right because it has fallen out of favor, I wish it would make a come back.

Porter · « **Reply #17 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:25:52 AM »

I totally thought you were making that up until I checked it out in the dictionary.

BlackBlade · « **Reply #18 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:14:45 AM »

Quote from: Porter on April 26, 2011, 08:25:52 AM

I totally thought you were making that up until I checked it out in the dictionary.

I never make things up!

Porter · « **Reply #19 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:28:53 AM »

Uh huh.

Dobie · « **Reply #20 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:32:06 AM »

Rhubarb.

The Genuine · « **Reply #21 on:** April 26, 2011, 11:02:47 AM »

The blonde looks a lot like my ex, Megan.

Which one is Nemoy?

pooka · « **Reply #22 on:** April 26, 2011, 11:07:43 AM »

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.

The Genuine · « **Reply #23 on:** April 26, 2011, 11:47:41 AM »

I guess I see it in his face, but not really.

The cat won an "Oscar" though!

Dobie · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2011, 12:19:56 PM »

He's the one who stands up at 4:53. He has two lines in that scene.