Kerfuffle definition

kûr-fŭfəl

(chiefly brit., informal) Disorder; uproar; confusion.

noun

4

1

A disorderly outburst, disturbance, commotion or tumult.

noun

2

0

A to-do or fuss.

noun

5

4

The definition of a kerfuffle is a British word for a state of confusion or disorder.

An example of a kerfuffle is rushing around to find important papers before a big presentation.

noun

0

0

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Alternative Forms

Alternative Form of kerfuffle - curfuffle, kerfluffle, kurfuffle

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:

kerfuffle

Plural:

kerfuffles

Origin of kerfuffle

Scots variant of curfuffle cur- intensive pref. (from Scots Gaelic car twist, turn about) (from Old Irish cor a turn sker-² in Indo-European roots) fuffle put into disorder (of imitative origin)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Probably from Scots curfuffle, equivalent to ker- +‎ fuffle, or related to Irish cior thual (“char athwart: confusion, disorder”). Similar to modern Welsh cythrwfl (“uproar, trouble, agitation”)

From Wiktionary