Fuss vs Puss - What's the difference?

fuss | puss |


As an adjective fuss

is willing.

As a noun puss is

(informal) a cat or puss can be (slang) the mouth.

Other Comparisons: What's the difference?

fuss

English

Noun

(es)
  • Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
  • * (Thomas Carlyle) (1795-1881)
    • zealously, assiduously, and with a minimum of fuss or noise
  • *{{quote-book, year=1935, author= George Goodchild
    • , title=Death on the Centre Court, chapter=1 , passage=“Anthea hasn't a notion in her head but to vamp a lot of silly mugwumps. She's set her heart on that tennis bloke
  • # A complaint or noise.
  • # An exhibition of affection or admiration.
  • One who is unduly anxious about trifles.
  • * (1837-1920)
    • I am a fuss and I don't deny it.

    Verb

    (es)
  • To be very worried or excited about something, often too much.
    • His grandmother will never quit fussing over his vegetarianism.
  • To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something
    • Quit fussing with your hair. It looks fine.
  • (especially of babies) To cry or be ill-humoured.

    • Usage notes

    * Generally used with with, over, or about.

    Verb

    (head)
  • To show affection for, especially animals.
  • To pet.
    • He fussed the cat.

    Derived terms

    * fussy * fuss and bother * no muss no fuss

    References

    puss

    English

    Etymology 1

    From a Common (etyl) word for cat. Akin to (etyl) , West Frisian (m), (etyl) (m), (m), Danish (m), dialectal (etyl) (m), (etyl) (m). Found also in several other European and Western Asian languages. Compare (etyl) (m).

    Noun

    (es)
  • (informal) A cat.
    • Our local theatre is showing Puss in Boots.
  • A girl or young woman.
  • (dated, hunting) A hare.
  • (vulgar, slang) Vulva (female genitalia).
    • Synonyms
    * (cat) moggie/moggy
    Related terms
    * pussy

    Etymology 2

    Of (etyl) origin, from or akin to (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • (slang) The mouth.
    • She gave him a slap in the puss .
    Synonyms
    * (mouth) cakehole, gob, mush, trap

    Anagrams

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