- Today's Word
Foofaraw
[FOO-fuh-raw]
Definition
- (noun) A great fuss or disturbance about something very minor or unimportant. It can also mean excessive or flashy ornamentation or decoration.
Example
The CEO’s new policy caused quite a foofaraw among the employees, even though it was just about changing the brand of coffee in the break room.
Fun Fact
The origin of “foofaraw” is uncertain, but it’s believed to have emerged in the American West in the mid-19th century. Some etymologists suggest it might be derived from the Spanish word “fanfarro,” meaning “braggart” or “boaster.” The word embodies the American frontier spirit of exaggeration and colorful language. It’s a prime example of how American English often incorporates playful, expressive words that capture complex ideas in a single, memorable term. Despite its age, “foofaraw” remains a delightful way to describe overblown reactions or unnecessary frills in modern usage.
(adjective) Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; moving randomly from one thing to another; disconnected and unfocused.
His desultory approach to studying — flipping between subjects every few minutes, never finishing a single chapter — left him unprepared when exam day finally arrived.
Desultory comes from the Latin desultorius, meaning “relating to a desultor” — a circus performer who would leap from horse to horse during a race without committing to any single one. The root desilire means “to leap down,” from de- (“down”) and salire (“to jump”). By the 16th century, English had borrowed the word to describe anything that jumps erratically from subject to subject without purpose or commitment.