Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡FODGE, n., v. Also fudge; fadge; ¶fag.
I. n. 1. A fat, clumsy, thick-set person (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in n.Eng. dial. Cf. Fodgel. Dim. fodgy, id. (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein); adj. fudgie, -y, thick, gross (Lth. 1808 Jam.).Sc. a.1765 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet in Child Ballads No. 73 A. viii.:
Her oxen may dye i' the house, billie, And her kye into the byre, And I sall hae nothing to mysell Bot a fat fadge by the fyre. [The version Ib. (1882) I. x. reads fag.]Sc. 1819 Blackwood's Mag. (Sept.) 677:
The Dominie . . . made much needless flustering and kept running to and fro like a wasp without a sting very fierce and fudgy.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xi.:
The great brozie-faced fodge.
‡2. A bundle, of sticks (Dmf. 1808 Jam., fadge), “of goods of an irregular shape” (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.). Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1935 Scotsman (31 May) 15:
The carter no longer buys a “kemple” of straw with which to bed his horse, nor the housewife a “fudge” of sticks for kindling her fire in the morning.
†II. v. “To walk in an awkward and waddling manner” (Ags. 1808 Jam.), quasi like a fat person. Also in Eng. dial. Cf. Fodgel, v. 1.
[Orig. doubtful. Phs. a palatalised form of fad, fod, in n.Eng. dial. = a bundle, truss, a variant of fauld (fold). Cf. Dad, Dadge, a change esp. common in s.Sc.]
