Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡FUDDER, v., n.¹ Also futher, -ir. [ne.Sc. ′fʌdər, Ags. ′fʌðər]

I. v. 1. To rush about precipitately, to scurry, to bustle (Abd.²⁷ 1950). Also fig. Ppl.adj. fuddert, rapid, precipitate.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 9:
Sae aff it fudder't owre the height, As fleet's a skellat.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 26:
As a' their thoughts gaed fudderin' thro' my head.Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 79:
An owlet futherin' in a tree O'ercoupit his philosophy.Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 61:
A foumart o' a motor gyangin' fuddrin' to the toon.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 31:
It's the dizzy an' fudderin' kin' o dancin' 'at fowk disna like.Sc.(E) 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 38:
On, an' aye on, thru' whistlin wind We flang in fuddert flicht.

2. To potter, trifle in a bustling manner; “to make great haste at work with little or no result” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 57; Bnff.² 1943; Ags.¹⁹ 1953, futher). Ppl.adj. fudderin, fiddling, doddering (Abd. 1950).

3. Of the wind: to blow boisterously, in strong gusts (Abd.⁹ 1943).Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 17:
Loud roar'd the win', an' fuddert roun' the lum.

II. n. 1. An impetuous rush, a sudden bustle, a hurry, flurry (Bnff.², Abd.⁹ 1943; Bnff.¹⁶ 1953), implying noise as well as movement (Abd. 1825 Jam.).  Hence adj. fodrach, quick in movement, restless (Abd. 1965 W. Wölck Phon. Analyse der Sprache von Buchan 92).Abd. 1739 in Caled. Mag. (1788) 501:
Syne a' the drochlin hempy thrang, Gat o'er him wi' a fudder.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 56:
Till birr, a maukin wi' a fudder, Startit up wi' souple shanks.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 57:
He's eye in an unco futhir, an' little diz he dee wee't a'.Abd. 1900 E.D.D.:
“Fat's a' yer fudder?” is a common question.

2. A sudden gust of wind (ne.Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, futhir; Abd. 1825 Jam.; Mry., Abd.⁹ 1943), a blast; “the shock, impulse, or resistance, occasioned by a blustering wind” (Jam.). Also fig., a snatch of rumour, a whisper of news.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
An' aye a bit fudder was comin' up fae the manse aboot fat the Presbytery was deein'.Ags. 1879 Arbroath Guide (12 April):
What a fudder o' a storm this has been.

†3. A stroke, a blow (Bch. 1825 Jam.).