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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CARFUFFLE, CURFUFFLE, Carfufle, Carfuchle, Curfuchel, Corfuffle, Kerfuffle, Cafoofle, Curfuff, v. and n. [kɑr-, kər-, kʌr-, -′fʌf(l), -′fʌxl]

I. v.

1. To disarrange, throw into confusion; “to disorder” (Upper Bnff. 1916 T.S.D.C. II., s.v. carfuchle); “to tumble, to crease” (Sc. 1825 Jam.²). Often found as ppl.adj. Known to Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Ags.¹, Fif.¹⁰, Slg.³, Gsw.², Lnk.³ 1938.Bnff.³ 1914:
Dinna curfuchel my apron.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 11:
Tell Jenny Cock, an' she jeer onie mair Ye ken where Dick curfuffl'd a' her hair.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 48:
Twis his first job, straucht frae schuil, though 'straucht' wisna a wird fowk hung on the peg that was hissel, for he wis a kerfuffled kinno a craitur, wi mair neuks an furliegorums than an octopus's oxters.Fif. 1875 A. Burgess Book of Nettercaps 54:
He's a' curfuffled i' the wurr — The least Thing gars him greet.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 84:
My brain hath been sae tufflt, An' my puir musie sae corfufflt, Wi' prose an' verse, ode, tale, an' sang.

Hence carfuflement, agitation, confusion. Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin 22:
The tumult within, strugglin' like the steam in a tea-kettle to find an ootlet, imparted a visible carfuflement to his ootward conduct.

‡2. To work in a trifling or ineffectual manner, to fiddle (Ags.¹⁷ 1938).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
He's aye curfufflin' on something.

II. n.

1. Disorder, mess; rumpling, creasing. Also fig. Known to Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹, Ags.¹⁷, Fif.¹⁰, Arg.¹ (rare), Kcb.¹ 1938. Cf. Curfuggle.Mry.⁵ 1928:
The worset wis a' in a carfuffle.Lth. 1813 G. Bruce Poems 65:
An' Jeanie's kirtle, aye sae neat, Gat there a sad carfuffle, An' rug, that day.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 244:
To dauner awa into the moss, far frae the carfuffle and idiotry o' a thochtless worl', . . . that is to me a happiness indeed.Dmf. 1864 D. Bell Sel. from Writings 21:
They're constantly tumblin' owre chairs, and chasing the cat, and makin' sic a carfuffle.

2. A disagreement, quarrel (Ags.¹⁷, Fif.¹⁰, Kcb.¹⁰ 1938).w.Dmf. 1925 W. A. Scott in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 17:
I still hear the children in their little curfuffs pause and ask, “Whae begoud it?”Kcb.⁴ c.1900:
There's an unco curfuff ta'en place atween them.Kcb., Dmf. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
carfuffle a mixed-up fight, a brawl.

3. A state of excitement or agitation. Known to Bnff.² 1938.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary (1818) xxix.:
My lord maun be turned feel outright . . . and he puts himself into sic a curfuffle for ony thing ye could bring him, Edie.Sc. 1995 Herald 4 May 15:
It was an awfy chave and caused a carfuffle but I managed to get the chappit cabok down the caddie's craig. It was something of a struggle and created a certain amount of disorder but I succeeded in persuading my pet lamb to eat the mashed cheese. Sc. 1998 Edinburgh Evening News 16 Mar 12:
I am totally bemused by all the carfuffle surrounding a temporary home for the proposed Scottish Parliament.
After nearly 300 years what do two more years matter? What is so sacred about the year 1999? Ags. 1880 J. E. Watt Poet. Sk. of Sc. Life and Char. 34:
An' Robbie was in a carfuffle aboot her.wm.Sc. [1835–1837] Laird of Logan (1868) 299:
Fiery-tempered bodies aye get into a carfuffle about trifles.Arg. 1993:
That was a cafoofle yesterday! [road caved in owing to collapse of old mine workings]

4. A term of contempt (Bnff.² 1938).Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake, etc. 16:
A wee carfuffle o' fa bodie, Wha kept the late Laird leather-shod aye.

5. pl. “Trimmings on dresses or other garments which are considered superfluous” (m.Dmf.³ c.1920).