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Quarrel vs Kerfuffle - What's the difference?

quarrel | kerfuffle |

As nouns the difference between quarrel and kerfuffle

is that quarrel is a verbal dispute or heated argument while kerfuffle is a disorderly outburst, disturbance, commotion or tumult.

As a verb quarrel

is to disagree.

quarrel

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) querele (modern French querelle), itself from (etyl) . Replaced (etyl) sacan by 1340 as “ground for complaint”.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A verbal dispute or heated argument.
    • We got into a silly quarrel about what food to order.
  • * Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side.
  • A ground of dispute or objection; a complaint.
    • A few customers in the shop had some quarrel s with us, so we called for the manager.
  • * Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him. - Bible, Mark vi. 19
  • * You mistake, sir. I am sure no man hath any quarrel to me.'' - Shakespeare, ''Twelfth Night , Act 3, scene 4
  • (obsolete) earnest desire or longing.
    • (Holland)
    Synonyms
    * See also
    Related terms
    *

    Verb

    (intransitive)
  • To disagree.
  • To contend, argue strongly, squabble.
  • * Sir W. Temple
    • Beasts called sociable quarrel in hunger and lust.
  • To find fault; to cavil.
    • to quarrel with one's lot
  • * Roscommon
    • I will not quarrel with a slight mistake.
  • (obsolete) To argue or squabble with.
  • * Ben Jonson
    • I had quarrelled my brother purposely.

    Derived terms

    * quarreler, quarreller * quarrelsome

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) as "square-headed bolt for a crossbow" c.1225, from (etyl) quarel (modern French carreau), from , related to quattuor "four".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A diamond-shaped piece of coloured glass forming part of a stained glass window.
  • A square tile; quarry tile.
  • A square-headed arrow for a crossbow.
  • *1600 , (Edward Fairfax), The (Jerusalem Delivered) of (w), Book VII, ciii:
  • *:Twanged the string, out flew the quarrel long, / And through the subtle air did singing pass.
  • *Sir (John Mandeville) (c.1350)
  • *:to shoot with arrows and quarrel
  • *Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
  • *:two arblasts,with windlaces and quarrels
  • *1829 , (Edward Augustus Kendall), The Olio or Museum of Entertainment , Vol.III, p.174
  • *:The small cross-bow, called the arbalet or arbalest, is said to have been invented by the Sicilians. It was carried by the foot-soldiers, and when used was charged with a quarrel or bar-bolt, that is, a small arrow with a flat head, one of which occasioned the death of Harold at the battle of Hastings,.
  • *2000 . , p.379
  • *:Satin scooped up his crossbow and sent a few quarrel s after them as they ran, to see them off the faster.
  • A small opening in window tracery, of which the cusps etc. make the form nearly square.
  • A four-sided cutting tool or chisel with a diamond-shaped end.

    • See also

    * (wikipedia) * quarl

    kerfuffle

    English

    Alternative forms

    * curfuffle, kafuffle, kerfluffle, kurfuffle * fuffle (by apheresis)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A disorderly outburst, disturbance, commotion or tumult.
  • * 2009 May 22, Stuart Heritage], “[http://www.hecklerspray.com/jon-kate-latest-people-you-dont-know-do-crap-you-dont-care-about/200934378.php Jon & Kate Latest: People You Don’t Know Do Crap You Don’t Care About]”, [http://www.hecklerspray.com/ Hecklerspray
    • You know all this kerfuffle about Jordan and Peter Andre, and how you don’t know if they’re really splitting up or it’s just an act
  • * 2011 June 6, Mark Memmott, “ Sarah Palin's Had Her Say; Now Let's Hear From Paul Revere”, The Two-Way , National Public Radio
    • There's been a bit of a kerfuffle the past couple days over something Sarah Palin said about Paul Revere.

    Synonyms

    * brouhaha * fracas * hubbub * mess * racket