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You are here: Home / Language / Where Did the Word “Fluff” Come From and What Does the Term “Shoddy” Mean?

Where Did the Word “Fluff” Come From and What Does the Term “Shoddy” Mean?

April 7, 2020 by Karen Hill

The word shoddy is used to describe both poor workmanship and poor character, while fluff means of little value.

The word shoddy is derived from shode meaning “shed” or “thrown off,” and refers to the excess tossed from the good cloth during the process of weaving.

This fluff is re-spun and used to make similar but cheaper wool products, which, although they look good, through time reveal their poor quality, they are fluff, of little value.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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