Saying These 7 Words Out Loud Will Make You Smile
August 1, 2025
Kerfuffle
Definition
A kerfuffle is “a disturbance or commotion typically caused by a dispute or conflict.”
Where Did It Come From?
Apparently, “fuffle” is a word all on its own! It’s an old Scottish verb meaning “to throw into disarray” (so it’s very similar to the nearly identical word “ruffle”). Somewhere along the way, it gained the prefix “car-,” meaning “wrong” and changed from a verb to a noun. By the 20th century, “carfuffle” had evolved to “kerfuffle,” which is the word we know and love today!
Catawampus
Definition
A catawampus is “an imaginary fierce wild animal” when it refers to a noun. As an adjective, it means “fierce, savage, destructive OR askew, awry, cater-cornered.”
Where Did It Come From?
The noun form of “catawampus” probably came from the word “catamount,” which refers to any kind of wild cat. The adjective likely derived from “catercorner,” which means “in a diagonal or oblique position.”
Serendipity
Definition
Serendipity means “the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.”
Where Did It Come From?
This word comes from a Persian fairy tale called The Three Princes of Serendip. In the story, the princes travel around the world, accidentally making incredible discoveries and stumbling upon amazing surprises.
Shenanigan
Definition
A shenanigan is “a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose, or a high-spirited or mischievous activity. It’s usually used in the plural.”
Where Did It Come From?
Etymologists aren’t totally sure about this word’s origin, but we do know that its first use in print was sometime in the mid-1800s. Originally, the word meant “an underhanded trick,” but now it’s more commonly used to mean “high-spirited behavior.”
Brouhaha
Definition
A brouhaha is a “hubbub or uproar.” This word suggests that the meaning of the hubbub is a bit silly or ridiculous. (Also fun to say are many of “brouhaha”‘s synonyms, such as “williwaw,” “hullabaloo,” and “bobbery.”)
Where Did It Come From?
“Brouhaha” also has a mysterious origin story, but we do know that it was borrowed from French sometime in the late 1700s.
Malarky
Definition
Malarky is “insincere or foolish talk.”
Where Did It Come From?
All I got when trying to find the origin story of “malarky” was this: “origin unknown.” If you know where this word comes from, please enlighten us in the comments!
Collywobbles
Definition
Collywobbles is a noun meaning “bellyache.”
Where Did It Come From?
“Collywobbles” first appeared in print around the 1820s. Etymologists believe that it came from the word “cholera morbus,” which is the New Latin term for the cholera disease. This would be an example of folk etymology, which is a process whereby unusual or even disliked words are transformed to make them sound more familiar and pleasant.
Click here to check out 17 words you never knew were acronyms!
Sources:
- “America’s Most Trusted Dictionary.” Merriam-Webster. Accessed July 5th, 2025. https://www.merriam-webster.com/.