fudeln

Meaning

1. (weak) to cheat, usually at a game
2. (dated, possibly, weak) to work negligently

Synonyms

hinschmieren

hudeln

pfuschen

schludern

schustern

stümpern

sudeln

🧽

vermasseln

schlampen

versauen

unordentlich arbeiten

murksen

rummachen

hinrotzen

fuddeln

rumfuckeln

nachlässig arbeiten

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfuːdl̩n/

Etymology

Cognate with Dutch: vod

Cognate with Luxembourgish: fuddelen

In summary

From Low German fuddeln (“to work negligently”) and Central Franconian fuddele (“to work negligently; to cheat; to use contraception”). The verb may be derived from Low German Fudde, Central Franconian Fudd, Fuddel, all “rag, old cloth” (compare Dutch vod); plausibly through a sense “to brush superficially with a rag”, as there existed a particular association with houseworkers. However, the verb reaches much further south along the Rhine than does the noun and many forms require an underlying long vowel. Many dialects also have several forms alongside. Therefore the above seems to have been influenced by or merged with one or more other verbs, including perhaps one from Old French faute (“fault, misbehaviour”). Compare Luxembourgish fuddelen, fautelen, pautelen, all “to cheat”.