fudeln

Alternative forms

• fuddeln (rarer spelling, but common pronunciation; see below)

Etymology

From German Low German fuddeln (“to work negligently”) and Central Franconian fuddele (“to work negligently; to cheat; to use contraception”). The verb may be derived from German 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. Given the fact that some dialects have two or more forms alongside, it is possible that two verbs have been merged. Compare Luxembourgish fuddelen, fautelen, pautelen, all “to cheat”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfuːdəln/, /ˈfʊdəln/

Verb

fudeln (third-person singular simple present fudelt, past tense fudelte, past participle gefudelt, auxiliary haben)

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