fudge
UK[fʌdʒ]US[fʌdʒ]
n
a soft, rich, creamy sweet made of sugar, butter, and milk or cream.
v
to present or deal with something in a vague, misleading, or dishonest way.
exclamation
used to express mild annoyance or to avoid using a stronger word.
Etymology
the origin of 'fudge' is obscure, with no clear lineage to proto-indo-european roots. it first appeared in the late 17th century as a verb meaning 'to fit together or adjust clumsily or fraudulently,' possibly as an alteration of the earlier verb 'fadge,' meaning 'to agree or suit.' its use as an exclamation of annoyance or dismissal (as in 'oh, fudge!') emerged around the same period. the confectionery sense, for a soft, creamy sweet, is a 19th-century american development, possibly adopted because making the candy was seen as a 'fudged' or botched attempt at making something else, like caramels or toffee.
Analysis
this word is considered unsegmentable using its modern english spelling. its origin is uncertain, and it does not clearly break down into meaningful, reusable morphemes from the current form.
Examples
she bought a pound of chocolate walnut fudge from the candy shop.
the politician tried to fudge the figures to make the economic data look more favorable.
oh, fudge! i've locked my keys in the car again.