fuddle — 1580s, originally to get drunk, later to confuse as though with drink (c.1600), of uncertain origin, perhaps from Low Ger. fuddeln work in a slovenly manner (as if drunk), from fuddle worthless cloth. The more common derivative BEFUDDLE (Cf.… … Etymology dictionary
Fuddle — Fud dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fuddled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fuddling}.] [Perh. formed as a kind of dim. of full. Cf. {Fuzzle}.] To make foolish by drink; to cause to become intoxicated. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] I am too fuddled to take care to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Fuddle — Fud dle, v. i. To drink to excess. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fuddle — index confusion (ambiguity), muddle Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
fuddle — muddle, addle, *confuse Analogous words: & Antonyms: see those at BEFUDDLE … New Dictionary of Synonyms
fuddle — [fud′ l] vt. fuddled, fuddling [akin ? to Ger dial. fuddeln, to swindle] to confuse or stupefy as with alcoholic liquor; befuddle vi. Rare to drink heavily; tipple n. a fuddled condition … English World dictionary
fuddle — 1 verb (T) BrE informal if something, especially alcohol or drugs, fuddles you or your mind, it makes you unable to think clearly: Too much drink fuddles your brain. 2 noun (singular) informal in a fuddle feeling very confused and unable to think … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
fuddle — /fud l/, v., fuddled, fuddling, n. v.t. 1. to muddle or confuse: a jumble of sounds to fuddle the senses. 2. to make drunk; intoxicate. v.i. 3. to tipple. n. 4. a confused state; muddle; jumble. [1580 90; orig. uncert.] * * * … Universalium
fuddle — Noun. 1. A confused state, a muddle. 2. An intoxicated state. E.g. He was in a fuddle so we stopped him driving home and made him sleep at ours. 3. An informal event or party, often based around a food, such as a buffet or picnic. East… … English slang and colloquialisms
fuddle — v. & n. v. 1 tr. confuse or stupefy, esp. with alcoholic liquor. 2 intr. tipple, booze. n. 1 confusion. 2 intoxication. 3 a spell of drinking (on the fuddle). Etymology: 16th c.: orig. unkn … Useful english dictionary