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Defugalty“Defugalty” means to screw up or make a mess of things. I would say, “That was some ****-up!” before I learned the word. Now, I prefer to say, “That was some defugalty!” It is an obscure word and when one uses it, others will ask about it. Vocabulary power! Amen. Bill Sayre February 9th, 2008 | February 9th, 2008 | % |
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I have been useing the word defugalty for about 37 years.I was called out on it, This person said “I have a really big brain and I am really smart and that is not a word”. I could not find it in my dictionary. Found it here.
There’s a discussion of this word here: http://www.languagehat.com/archives/000630.php
I used the word defugalty when speaking with my boss and I was asked if it was a real word or an “Idaho” word. I told her it was real so I had to prove it which I did with help of your site. So Thanks, I feel smarter.
My mother (originally from Vale, Oregon, very close to Idaho), used that word and I learned it from her. I used it but had never looked it up until yesterday. A friend called me on it and I looked it up….and was startled that it wasn’t in the dictionary. I called my mother who wondered if maybe SHE made it up. Apparently she did not.
I am so relieved to know I’m not losing my mind. I grew up in Utah using this word with wild abandon and was so surprised a few years ago to have a co-worker tell me it wasn’t a word. I called my sister and cousin and they both knew exactly what it meant. I will resume using it and keep this site as proof I’m not alone. Thanks
I am so relieved to know I’m not losing my mind. I’m 65 and grew up in Utah using this word with wild abandon. I was so surprised a few years ago to have a co-worker tell me it wasn’t a word. I called my sister and cousin and they both knew exactly what it meant. I will resume using it and keep this site as proof I’m not alone. Thanks
I have used this word most of my life. I learned it from my Dad. I thought it was “his’ word, but I see we are not alone. Great word!!! I love this word.
My Dad and Mother used this word as I was growing up. I was called on it by a friend who said it wasn’t a word that she had ever heard. We looked in the dictionary and couldn’t find it. So I found it on the computer and was so happy cause this friend was an English teacher. I too, love this word.
I had always heard the word “defugalty” growing up. I used it at the coffee shop the other day and my friend, an English teacher said, she had never heard of it before. Well I’m happy to report that I found this website.
I had never seen the word in print [though I had used it] until I happened upon it while reading Dashiell Hammett’s The Glass Key. Hammett spelled it “diffugalty.” It’s a great sounding word.
I’ve used the word for 60+ years, learned it from my father who grew up in New Hampshire 100 years ago.