Advertisement
Entries linking to fussy
fuss (n.)
"trifling bustle," 1701, originally colloquial, perhaps an alteration of force (n.), or "echoic of the sound of something sputtering or bubbling" [OED], or from Danish fjas "foolery, nonsense." First attested in Anglo-Irish writers, but there are no obvious connections to words in Irish. To make a fuss was earlier to keep a fuss (1726). Fuss and feathers "bustle and display" is from 1848, American English, suggestive of a game cock or a peacock, originally of U.S. Army Gen. Winfield Scott (1786-1866) in the Mexican-American War.
Gen. Scott is said to be as particular in matters of etiquette and dress as Gen. Taylor is careless. The soldiers call one "Old Rough and Ready," and the other "Old Fuss and Feathers." [The Mammoth, Nov. 15, 1848].
-y (2)adjective suffix, "full of or characterized by," from Old English -ig, from Proto-Germanic *-iga- (source also of Dutch, Danish, German -ig, Gothic -egs), from PIE -(i)ko-, adjectival suffix, cognate with elements in Greek -ikos, Latin -icus (see -ic). Originally added to nouns in Old English; used from 13c. with verbs, and by 15c. even with other adjectives (for example crispy).
Share fussy
‘cite’
Page URL:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/fussy
HTML Link:
<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/fussy">Etymology of fussy by etymonline</a>
APA style:
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of fussy. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/fussy
Chicago style:
Harper Douglas, “Etymology of fussy,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/fussy.
MLA style:
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of fussy.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/fussy. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
IEEE style:
D. Harper. “Etymology of fussy.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/fussy (accessed $(datetime)).
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of fussy
fussy (adj.)
exacting especially about details;
fussy about clothes