fudeln

• fuddeln (rarer spelling, but common pronunciation; see below)

From Low German fuddeln (“to work negligently”) and Central Franconian fuddele (“to work negligently; to cheat; to use contraception”). The verb may be derived from Low German Fudde, Central Franconian Fudd, Fuddel, all “rag, old cloth” (compare Dutch vod); plausibly through a sense “to brush superficially with a rag”, as there existed a particular association with houseworkers. However, the verb reaches much further south along the Rhine than does the noun and many forms require an underlying long vowel. Many dialects also have several forms alongside. Therefore the above seems to have been influenced by or merged with one or more other verbs, including perhaps one from Old French faute (“fault, misbehaviour”). Compare Luxembourgish fuddelen, fautelen, pautelen, all “to cheat”.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfuːdl̩n/, /ˈfʊdl̩n/
• Rhymes: -uːdl̩n

fudeln (weak, third-person singular present fudelt, past tense fudelte, past participle gefudelt, auxiliary haben)

1. to cheat, usually at a game

   Synonyms: mogeln, betrügen

2. (possibly dated) to work negligently

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• Fudelei
• Fudler

• “fudeln” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “fudeln” in Duden online