English
fudge
Fudge may come from English fadge ‘to fit’.
- English1500–presentfadge‘to fit’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1866fudge
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- English1500–presentfadge‘to fit’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1866fudge
Earliest quotation: 1866, George Eliot: “Fudge! if you had such a fine instinct, why…”
The story
Probably a variant of fadge (‘to fit’), the confectionery sense having evolved from the meaning of “merging together” or “turning out as expected”.
Every English word from English fadge
Today it means
noun A type of very sweet candy or confection, usually made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / English fadge / fudge