† fussn.1
Obsolete.
= fussock n. 1, fustilugs n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > broad shape or physique > [noun] > fat or plump shape or physique > person having > woman
roil1533
boss1578
blowze1594
fustilarian1600
fustilugs1607
tub-woman1660
fuss1670
fussock1699
bundlea1825
1670 J. Dryden & W. Davenant Shakespeare's Tempest iii. 38 This [sc. his Bosen's Whistle]..is a badge of my Sea-Office; my fair Fuss, thou dost not know it.
1675 C. Cotton Burlesque upon Burlesque 113 That great ramping Fuss, thy Daughter.
1702 R. Steele Funeral iii. 43 O' Sunday Morning at Church I curtsied to You; and look'd at a great Fusse in a Glaring light Dress next Pew.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
fussn.2
/fʌs/, U.S. /fəs/ 1.
a. A bustle or commotion out of proportion to the occasion; a needless or excessive display of concern about anything; ostentatious or officious activity. Phrases: †to keep a fuss with = the later to make a fuss about; to make a fuss of or over (†with): to pamper; to treat with an excessive display of affection or attention.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss
to-doc1330
adoc1380
great (also much) cry and little woolc1460
feery-fary1535
fray1568
stirc1595
do1598
coil1599
hurl1603
ruffle1609
clutterment1611
buzz1628
bustle1637
paddle1642
racket1644
clutter1652
tracas1656
tracasserie1656
circumference1667
flutter1667
hurly-burly1678
fuss1701
fissle1719
fraise1725
hurry-scurry1753
fix-fax1768
fal-lal1775
widdle1789
touse1792
fuffle1801
going-on1817
hurry and scurry1823
sputter1823
tew1825
Bob's-a-dying1829
fidge1832
tamasha1842
mulling1845
mussing1846
fettling1847
fooster1847
trade1854
scrimmage1855
carry-on1861
fuss-and-feathers1866
on-carry1870
make-a-do1880
miration1883
razzle-dazzle1885
song and dance1885
to get a rustle on1891
tea-party1903
stirabout1905
whoop-de-do1910
chichi1928
production1941
go-go1966
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] > instance of
viretotec1386
moving?a1439
reela1450
stir1487
songa1500
pirrie1536
hurly-burly1548
make-a-do1575
confusions1599
the hunt is upa1625
ruffle1642
fuss1701
fraction1721
fizza1734
dust1753
noration1773
steeriea1776
splorea1791
rook1808
piece of work1810
curfuffle1813
squall1813
rookerya1820
stushie1824
shindy1829
shine1832
hurroosh1836
fustle1839
upsetting1847
shinty1848
ructions1862
vex1862
houp-la1870
set-out1875
hoodoo1876
tingle-tangle1880
shemozzle1885
take-on1893
dust-up1897
hoo-ha1931
tra-la-la1933
gefuffle1943
tzimmes1945
kerfuffle1946
the mind > emotion > love > tenderness > foolish affection, excessive love or fondness > be infatuatedly fond or love to excess [verb (transitive)] > pet, indulge, or pamper
daunt1303
cocker1440
cherisha1450
pomper1483
daut?a1513
to cocker up1530
pamper1530
pimper1537
tiddle1560
cockle1570
dandlea1577
cotchel1578
cockney1582
fondle1582
coax1589
to coax up1592
to flatter up1598
dainty1622
pet1629
cosset1659
caudle1662
faddle1688
pettle1719
coddle1786
sugar-plum1788
twattle1790
to make a fuss of or over (with)1814
mud1814
pamperizea1845
mollycoddle1851
pompey1860
cosher1861
pussy1889
molly1907
1701 G. Farquhar Sir Harry Wildair iii. i. 21 Ah! I hate these Congregation-women. There's such a fuss and such a clutter about their Devotion.
c1730 Ld. Lansdowne Wild Boar's Def. in Wks. (1732) I. 140 With your Humanity you keep a Fuss; But are in truth worse brutes than all of us.
1733 J. Swift Epist. to Lady 11 Come to use, and Application: Nor with Senates keep a Fuss.
1783 F. Burney Diary & Lett. (1842) II. 246 I felt so fagged with the preceding day's fuss.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. xi. 295 You have both been making a great fuss about nothing.
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park III. xiv. 267 I thought little of his illness at first. I looked upon him as the sort of person to be made a fuss with..in any trifling disorder. View more context for this quotation
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxiii. 71 She got under weigh with very little fuss.
1850 J. R. Lowell Lett. (1894) I. 175 It is only foolish little men that are fond of mysteries and fusses.
1879 W. H. Dixon Brit. Cyprus vi. 58 They were to ask no leave, and make no fuss.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. III. ci. 424 There is a good deal of fuss made about trotting-matches.
1928 Daily Mail 13 Aug. 19/2 He asked her if she were not going to let him make a fuss of her before he went.
1931 E. O'Neill Mourning becomes Electra i. iii. 71 His mother was stern with him, while Marie, she made a fuss over him and petted him.
a1953 E. O'Neill Long Day's Journey (1956) i. 37 You like to get us worried so we'll make a fuss over you.
a1953 E. O'Neill Long Day's Journey (1956) ii. ii. 78 You want to be petted and spoiled and made a fuss over.
b. fuss-and-feathers, bustle and display; hence fuss-and-featherdom.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss
to-doc1330
adoc1380
great (also much) cry and little woolc1460
feery-fary1535
fray1568
stirc1595
do1598
coil1599
hurl1603
ruffle1609
clutterment1611
buzz1628
bustle1637
paddle1642
racket1644
clutter1652
tracas1656
tracasserie1656
circumference1667
flutter1667
hurly-burly1678
fuss1701
fissle1719
fraise1725
hurry-scurry1753
fix-fax1768
fal-lal1775
widdle1789
touse1792
fuffle1801
going-on1817
hurry and scurry1823
sputter1823
tew1825
Bob's-a-dying1829
fidge1832
tamasha1842
mulling1845
mussing1846
fettling1847
fooster1847
trade1854
scrimmage1855
carry-on1861
fuss-and-feathers1866
on-carry1870
make-a-do1880
miration1883
razzle-dazzle1885
song and dance1885
to get a rustle on1891
tea-party1903
stirabout1905
whoop-de-do1910
chichi1928
production1941
go-go1966
1866 Temple Bar May 198 Their [hen-women's] fuss and featherdom have..a different direction.
1891 Wolseley in Pall Mall Gaz. 23 Sept. 7/2 It was no fuss-and-feathers and gold-lace army.
2. A state of (more or less ludicrous) consternation or anxiety.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > [noun]
fever1340
motiona1398
quotidian?a1439
rufflea1535
commotion1581
fret1582
hurry1600
puddering1603
tumultuousnessa1617
trepidation1625
feverishness1638
boilingc1660
fermentationc1660
tumult1663
ferment1672
stickle1681
fuss1705
whirl1707
flurry1710
sweat1715
fluster1728
pucker1740
flutter1741
flustration1747
flutteration1753
tremor1753
swithera1768
twitteration1775
state1781
stew1806
scrow1808
tumultuating1815
flurrification1822
tew1825
purr1842
pirr1856
tête montée1859
go1866
faff1874
poultry flutter1876
palaver1878
thirl1879
razzle-dazzle1885
nervism1887
flurry-scurry1888
fikiness1889
foment1889
dither1891
swivet1892
flusterment1895
tither1896
overwroughtness1923
mania1925
stumer1932
tizzy1935
two and eight1938
snit1939
tizz1953
tiswas1960
wahala1966
1705 J. Vanbrugh Confederacy iv, in Wks. (1840) 431/1 Why, here's your Master in a most violent Fuss, and no mortal Soul can tell for what.
1746 Hawley in Albemarle 50 Yrs. of my Life (1876) I. 114 I could not tell you..the fusse the battalions of Guards are in upon this sudden embarcation.
1813 Lady Burghersh Lett. (1893) 74 Madame Legoux..had been in a fine fuss about us.
3. [ < fuss v.] One who fusses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss > one who bustles or fusses
bustlepatea1652
bustler1653
rouseabout1746
stirabout1837
fuss1875
fusser1884
fuss-box1901
1875 W. D. Howells Foregone Concl. 98 I am a fuss, and I don't deny it.
Compounds
fuss-box n. (a jocular term for) a person who fusses, a fusser.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss > one who bustles or fusses
bustlepatea1652
bustler1653
rouseabout1746
stirabout1837
fuss1875
fusser1884
fuss-box1901
1901 R. Meinertzhagen Diary 30 Apr. (1960) 22 Major Mainwaring..is..a grumpy old fuss-box.
1915 W. J. Locke Jaffery x You thought I was going off my chump, you dear old fuss-box. But you were wrong.
1939 D. L. Sayers In Teeth of Evidence 236 What an old fuss~box you are, darling.
fuss-budget n.
ΚΠ
1904 Dial. Notes 2 397 Fuss~budget, a nervous, fidgety person.
1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind xxviii. 476 Her husband was old fuss~budget Frank.
1966 Punch 30 Nov. 823/2 The two Mrs. Oswalds are viable characters, the younger played very artfully by Sarah Miles and the elder, on its terms of chatterbox fussbudget, vividly impersonated by Bessie Love.
fuss-pot n. a person who fusses.
ΚΠ
1921 G. O'Donovan Vocations i. 16 You are a fuss~pot. First you won't and then you will.
1951 J. B. Priestley Festival at Farbridge ii. ii. 249 In the woman's opinion, the gentleman was a fusspot but wonderfully free with his money.
1966 M. R. D. Foot SOE in France iii. 50 Some were foolhardy, some were fusspots.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
fussv.
/fʌs/, U.S. /fəs/ 1. intransitive. To make a fuss; to be in a bustle; to busy oneself restlessly about trifles; to move fussily (about, up and down, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > act or do vigorously [verb (intransitive)] > be brisk or active > bustle > fuss or make a fuss
nytelc1400
to make a matter1549
to keep a coil1568
squatter1593
fiddle-faddle1633
to play hell (with)1750
fuss1792
to play hell and Tommy1825
piggle1836
palavera1840
to make a time1844
to make a time1844
friggle1848
fussify1868
to make a production of (or out of)1941
1792 Elvina II. 132 The Thorntons were among the first, Sir Gilbert fussing about, with his large white wig and gouty legs, as happy as any of them.
1797 R. Polwhele Old Eng. Gentleman 62 She fuss'd to form arrangements with the cook.
1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour iii. xv. 78 He had been fussing about it not long before, and dusting the portrait of himself.
1859 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 456/2 Forth would fuss Achmet, with a huge crowd of staff.
1871 W. H. Dixon Tower IV. iv. 34 Sir John..fussed and fumed about the Court.
1876 F. E. Trollope Charming Fellow I. xi. 143 His wife liked to be fussing about in kitchen and store-room.
1883 J. Parker Tyne Chylde 11 But the more he was fussed over the more he infidelled.
1887 T. A. Trollope What I Remember I. xiv. 293 I remember the host fussing in and out of the room during the quarter of an hour before dinner.
1889 The County vi, in Cornhill Mag. Feb. They may be fussed over as novelties.
2. transitive. To put into a fuss; to agitate, worry; to bother about trifles. Also to fuss up (? dialect): to flatter, treat with fussy politeness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > cause nervous excitement or agitate [verb (transitive)]
to carry away?1529
agitate1591
fermentate1599
tumultuate1616
alarm1620
overwork1645
uncalm1650
flutter1664
pother1692
to set afloata1713
fluctuate1788
fuss1816
tumult1819
to break up1825
rile1857
to steam up1860
to shake up1884
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > carry on vigorously [verb (transitive)] > make brisk or active > bring into a specific condition by bustling > put into a fuss
fuss1816
1816 T. Moore Mem. (1853) II. 98 Safe arrived,—quite well, but more pulled about, fussed, and bustled than ever.
1820 J. Clare Poems Rural Life (ed. 3) 14 Since Hope's deluding tongue inclin'd me To fuss myself.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 157 Since he fuss'd me so up in the grove.
1876 C. M. Yonge Womankind xxviii. 245 It is generally the safest way to take care to be in time ourselves, but to guard against fussing other people.
1885 L. B. Walford Nan II. 163 The going in and out..always fusses me.
Derivatives
fussed adj. in a fuss; agitated, disconcerted.
ΚΠ
1816 T. Moore Let. May in Ld. J. Russell Mem., Jrnl. & Corresp. T. Moore (1853) I. 99 Safe arrived—quite well, but more pulled about, fussed, and bustled than ever.
1861 C. M. Yonge Stokesley Secret v. 83 David is taking up his slate, looking a little fussed because there is a scratch in the corner.
1902 Lady E. Cecil Let. 21 June in C. Headlam Milner Papers (1933) II. xi. 417 I was conscious of that moderation which his ready and quick understanding always induces in me... He is not played out as the other Ministers are, not fussed.
fussing n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss > bustling or fussing
flustering1422
bustlingc1450
buskling1546
fussation1775
fussing1826
fussification1834
rustling1872
fidget1890
spuffling1893
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > brisk or active > bustling or fussing > about trifles
busy-idle1611
nugiperous1647
fidgeting1672
niffy-naffy1765
fingering1799
fussing1826
fussy1831
fiddle-faddling1834
spoffish1836
spoffy1860
fustling1867
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village (1863) II. 317 She was addicted to a fussing and fidgetty neatness.
1832 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well Introd. 9 The character of the traveller, meddling, self-important, and what the ladies call fussing.
1861 H. Bushnell Christian Nurture ii. i. 231 His obstinacy is but the fussing of his weakness.
1869 M. A. Barker Station Life N.Z. (1874) xv. 108 I have finished all my little fussings about the house.
fuˈssation n. [see -ation suffix] the action, habit, or practice of fussing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss > bustling or fussing
flustering1422
bustlingc1450
buskling1546
fussation1775
fussing1826
fussification1834
rustling1872
fidget1890
spuffling1893
1775 F. Burney Let. 13 Nov. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1990) II. 175 She dispelled all sort of Ceremony, distance, or fussation.
1895 World Christm. No. 61/2 That idiotic fussation..all the excitement, and all those people staring at her.
ˈfusser n. [see -er suffix1] one who fusses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss > one who bustles or fusses
bustlepatea1652
bustler1653
rouseabout1746
stirabout1837
fuss1875
fusser1884
fuss-box1901
1884 ‘Judge Wiglittle’ 10 Years Police Judge xv. 161 Every witness, affiant, loafer, fusser, and teazer of this jurisdictional region.
1890 Pall Mall Gaz. 2 May 2/3 The Standard with its fellow fussers and fogies abroad sits down and waits the event.
Draft additions March 2006
fussed adj. chiefly British interested, concerned, bothered (in negative contexts, indicating indifference or lack of enthusiasm).
ΚΠ
1975 Economist 15 Feb. 64/1 The Americans are not too fussed about who is invited to the preliminary meeting.
1995 C. Bateman Divorcing Jack xxv. 214 I had my suitcase all packed and I wasn't one bit fussed whether I was going to heaven or hell or London, I felt that bad.
2005 Independent 9 Apr. (Traveller Mag.) 3/2 If you have booked a weekend away at a very low fare, and are not that fussed about whether you go to BIQ (the code for Biarritz) or B&Q (the do-it-yourself store), then accepting the ‘call’ is a sensible plan.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.21701v.1775