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!
Learn English – Origin of the word “spudger”
etymology
etymology
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.
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.
This word dates back to 1775:
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.