fuddy-duddy
UK[ˈfʌd.iˌdʌd.i]US[ˈfʌd.iˌdʌd.i]
n
a person who is old-fashioned and fussy, especially about details or rules
Etymology
the term 'fuddy-duddy' is a fanciful, reduplicative coinage from the late 19th century, with 'fuddy' possibly related to the scots word 'fud' (meaning 'buttocks' or 'tail') or simply a nonsense syllable. the rhyming 'duddy' was added for humorous, emphatic effect, a common pattern in english for creating colloquial or mildly pejorative terms (e.g., 'hanky-panky', 'hoity-toity'). it emerged as a slang descriptor for a stodgy, ineffectual, or old-fashioned person, with its playful sound contrasting with the critical meaning. its persistence in the language is due to its vivid, rhythmic quality perfectly capturing a specific type of tedious conservatism.
Analysis
this is a reduplicative compound, a playful formation where the second element ('duddy') echoes and rhymes with the first ('fuddy'). its components do not carry independent, analyzable meanings in modern english.
Examples
my grandfather is a bit of a fuddy-duddy who still writes letters by hand and distrusts smartphones.
don't be such a fuddy-duddy; it's just a casual party, not a formal dinner.
the committee was dominated by fuddy-duddies who resisted any change to the traditional process.