fudge English · revision 1981

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fʌd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The verb is probably an alteration of ''fadge'' “to fit, make suit” (1573),^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) a word of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The exclamation ''fudge!'' “nonsense!” (1766) is probably an extension of the verb,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) though tradition derives it from a 17th-century sea captain called Fudge, nicknamed “Lying Fudge”.^(Etymonline) The name of the sweet (1895–1896) may be a special use of the verb.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To fit together or adjust clumsily, makeshift or dishonestly; to fake up (1674).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb was early associated with sailors and with faking log books.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The interjection ''fudge!'' meant “nonsense!” (1766),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and the noun followed for nonsense (1791) and for a made-up story (1797).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) The soft candy appears in 1895 in the speech of students at American women's colleges,^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) perhaps from the idea of something “faked up” on the spot.^(Etymonline) In the 20th century the verb also came to mean to dodge an issue or to reach a makeshift compromise (1888),^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and the noun a fudged solution (1980).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1573 – ''fadge'', to fit.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1674 – verb, to patch up clumsily or dishonestly.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1766 – interjection, nonsense!^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1797 – a made-up story.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1895 – the soft candy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1977 – ''fudge factor''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1980 – a makeshift compromise.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A soft, rich candy made of sugar, butter, milk and flavouring.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Nonsense; humbug.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A vague or evasive answer, or a makeshift compromise.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To falsify or fake, as figures.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To dodge or evade an issue.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To cheat, or to go beyond proper limits.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Used to express annoyance or disbelief.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fudge factor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fadge]]

+ * [[humbug]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}