Learn English – Origin of the word “spudger”

etymology

enter image description here

It appears to derive from the word "spuddle" which goes back to the Middle Ages, but the earliest I could find for "spudger" was 1877. Any additional information would be appreciated!

Best Answer

As far as antedating, the word appears to be at least as old as 1840 in print. The earliest citation I found was from Britain.

The Articles in the Smithery and Nail-house consists of sets of windless rims, palls and hawse pipes; square, flat, and round iron; 2 new anchors, 6 cwt. each; anchor shanks and flukes, belaying ring and set bolts, clamps and chains, and the working tools; ribband, spike, and about 9 cwt. of filling nails, and sundry smaller ditto; crows, spudgers, old hammered and cast-iron; a quantity of wrought copper spikes, augers, brown oakum, prepared tarred paper, 13 iron hurdles, &c., &c.

enter image description here

If the word, which the OED does not include, does in fact derive from "spuddle," as seems plausible, then it would possibly share that distinction with another word of uncertain origin, spudgel, which the OED attributes as a potential derivative.

A small bowl or bucket with a long handle used for scooping water (esp. when bailing out a boat) and for similar purposes.

This word dates back to 1775:

  • 1775 G. Cartwright Jrnl. 4 June (1911) 159 The boat proved so leaky, that the spudgel was scarce ever out of hand.

I haven't been able to find direct references to the word in reputable dictionaries, though I wouldn't be surprised if other users here will find research that paints a more complete picture.

Related Topic