kerfuffle
noun
J. K. RowlingBelinda Luscombe
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The Evolution of Kerfuffle
Fuffle is an old Scottish verb that means “to muss” or “to throw into disarray”—in other words, to (literally) ruffle someone’s (figurative) feathers. The addition of car-, possibly from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning “wrong” or “awkward,” didn’t change its meaning much. In the 19th century carfuffle, with its variant curfuffle, became a noun, which in the 20th century was embraced by a broader population of English speakers and standardized to kerfuffle, referring to a more figurative feather-ruffling. There is some kerfuffle among language historians over how the altered spelling came to be favored. One theory holds that it might have been influenced by onomatopoeic words like kerplunk that imitate the sound of a falling object hitting a surface.
Examples of kerfuffle in a Sentence
Raven Smith, Vogue, 28 May 2025
Other highlights include a jab at Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network and Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports for their kerfuffle at the NFL Scouting Combine, and a seemingly positive mention of former KU quarterback Jason Bean (at the expense of the Colts’ Anthony Richardson).
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025
So the former Maryland center was dismayed to see how a two-week kerfuffle at his former school resulted in the departures of athletic director Damon Evans, men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard and five players.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2025
But the real thrust of the whole argument is one Dorit says to Kyle in the middle of the kerfuffle.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kerfuffle
Cite this Entry
“Kerfuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kerfuffle. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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