Word of the Day: Kerfuffle

Those of us in law school career services offices throughout the country belong to these list serves that cause us to receive countless emails a day from our colleagues requesting information or providing answers to questions previously asked. They can be very useful and also very amusing.

In one recent email, a colleague from another law school used the word "kerfuffle" in a particularly appropriate way. It is not a word you hear very often in this country (the British use it much more frequently), but it can be very effective when used appropriately.

Kerfuffle: a disorderly outburst or tumult; a commotion or fuss; a noisy, nervous shuffling around with the connotation of useless, annoying movement.

Use in a sentence: Failing to complete the appropriate paperwork before reporting for work will cause quite a kerfuffle in the Human Resources Office.

For information about the etymology of kerfuffle, you may go here or here.