Etymograph

English

addle-plot

From addle (“to muddle, to ruin”) + plot (“plan”).

A compound of addle ‘to muddle, to ruin’ + plot ‘plan’

Proto-Germanic *adalaz ‘liquid manure’

Proto-West Germanic *adal

Old English adel ‘mire, pool, liquid excrement’

Middle English adel ‘rotten’

English addle

Old English plot ‘a plot of ground’

Middle English plot

English plot

The story

In earliest use as a character name in Love for Money by Thomas d'Urfey in 1691.

Today it means

noun Synonym of spoilsport, one who ruins other's plans or enjoyment of something.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / addle-plot