fudge 1
/fuj/ , n.
a soft candy made of sugar, butter, milk, chocolate, and sometimes nuts.
[ 1895-1900, Amer.; of uncert. orig.; the word was early in its history associated with college campuses, where fudge-making was popular; however, attempts to explain it as a derivative of FUDGE 3 (preparing the candy supposedly being an excuse to "fudge" on dormitory rules) are dubious and prob. after-the-fact speculation ]
fudge 2
/fuj/ , n. , v. , fudged, fudging .
n.
1. nonsense or foolishness (often used interjectionally).
v.i.
2. to talk nonsense.
[ 1690-1700; orig. uncert.; cf. FUDGE 3 ]
fudge 3
/fuj/ , v. , fudged, fudging , n.
v.i.
1. to cheat or welsh (often fol. by on ): to fudge on an exam; to fudge on one's campaign promises.
2. to avoid coming to grips with something: to fudge on an issue.
3. to exaggerate a cost, estimate, etc., in order to allow leeway for error.
v.t.
4. to avoid coming to grips with (a subject, issue, etc.); evade; dodge: to fudge a direct question.
n.
5. a small stereotype or a few lines of specially prepared type, bearing a newspaper bulletin, for replacing a detachable part of a page plate without the need to replate the entire page.
6. the bulletin thus printed, often in color.
7. a machine or attachment for printing such a bulletin.
[ 1665-75; orig. uncert.; in earliest sense, "to contrive clumsily," perh. expressive var. of fadge to fit, agree, do (akin to ME feien to put together, join, OE fegan ); unclear if FUDGE 1 and FUDGE 2 are developments of this word or independent coinages ]