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fudge

Etymology and origin of the English word fudge

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /fʌd͡ʒ/[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.[2][3] The verb is probably an alteration of fadge “to fit, make suit” (1573),[4][5][6][3] a word of unknown origin.[5][6] The exclamation fudge! “nonsense!” (1766) is probably an extension of the verb,[6][5] though tradition derives it from a 17th-century sea captain called Fudge, nicknamed “Lying Fudge”.[6] The name of the sweet (1895–1896) may be a special use of the verb.[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

To fit together or adjust clumsily, makeshift or dishonestly; to fake up (1674).[7][5][2]

Semantic evolution

The verb was early associated with sailors and with faking log books.[6][7] The interjection fudge! meant “nonsense!” (1766),[7][5][6] and the noun followed for nonsense (1791) and for a made-up story (1797).[7][5] The soft candy appears in 1895 in the speech of students at American women's colleges,[6][3] perhaps from the idea of something “faked up” on the spot.[6] In the 20th century the verb also came to mean to dodge an issue or to reach a makeshift compromise (1888),[7][2] and the noun a fudged solution (1980).[7]

Timeline

  • 1573 – fadge, to fit.[5]
  • 1674 – verb, to patch up clumsily or dishonestly.[7][5][2]
  • 1766 – interjection, nonsense![7][5][2]
  • 1797 – a made-up story.[7][5]
  • 1895 – the soft candy.[6]
  • 1977 – fudge factor.[7]
  • 1980 – a makeshift compromise.[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A soft, rich candy made of sugar, butter, milk and flavouring.
  2. Nonsense; humbug.
  3. A vague or evasive answer, or a makeshift compromise.

Verb

  1. To falsify or fake, as figures.
  2. To dodge or evade an issue.
  3. To cheat, or to go beyond proper limits.

Interjection

  1. Used to express annoyance or disbelief.

Word family

  • fudge factor
  • fadge
  • humbug

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  4. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Fudge.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/fudge. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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