[Ads-l] fluffle

[Ben Zimmer]

Here's the segment on "fluffle" that Grant and Martha did for "A Way With
Words":

https://www.waywordradio.org/fluffle-rabbit-coinage/

Grant mentioned that "fluffle" has been added to Wiktionary. And it appears
that one of the listeners to the radio show recently edited the entry to
cite this very ADS-L thread as evidence that the word was invented on
Wikipedia.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fluffle

--bgz

On Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 6:33 PM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com> wrote:

> Given how "fluffle" has spread in the manner of urban folklore, it's
> appropriate you're talking to a "friend of a friend" (FOAF).
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend_of_a_friend
>
> On Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 6:18 PM Grant Barrett <gbarrett at worldnewyork.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Tomorrow on the radio show we're going to talk with a friend of a friend
>> of
>> one of the people who supposedly added "fluffle" to Wikipedia. They're
>> wondering if their friend was indeed part of the group that started the
>> word or if there is prior art. Should be interesting to hear more.
>>
>> GB
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 12:24 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
>> >
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Germane? Or meaningless coincidence?
>> >
>> > 1990 Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Dec. 12) A-2: Looking for the CHRISTMAS
>> BUNNY?
>> > Yes! A Bunny called Fluffles IS the Christmas Bunny. He's dressed in
>> > holiday finery [etc.]
>> >
>> > [Ad for a plush rabbit doll.]
>> >
>> > JL
>> >
>> > On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 8:58 PM Jonathan Lighter <
>> wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > > 295,000 raw Googlits.
>> > >
>> > > JL
>> > >
>> > > On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 6:25 PM Chris Waigl <chris at lascribe.net>
>> wrote:
>> > >
>> > >> What a rabbit hole :) ! Moonies and "northern Canada", huh?
>> > >>
>> > >> Well, there are no wild rabbits in northern Canada, so if there's
>> > anything
>> > >> to this I'd be tempted to look into how local groups talk about
>> snowshoe
>> > >> hares and Arctic hares.
>> > >>
>> > >> Now, of course, this factoid has entered the mainstream and morphed
>> > into a
>> > >> self-fulfilling prophecy.
>> > >>
>> > >> Chris
>> > >>
>> > >> On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 12:32 PM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >> > I was recently forwarded this language factoid:
>> > >> >
>> > >> > "A group of wild rabbits is called a 'fluffle' and I've never loved
>> > the
>> > >> > English language more."
>> > >> > https://twitter.com/mastersrex/status/1315295446584168448
>> > >> >
>> > >> > I'm always curious how these things spread, and this one sent me
>> down
>> > a
>> > >> > rabbit-hole, appropriately enough. Here's a timeline:
>> > >> >
>> > >> > July 30, 2007: Wikipedia user Freeridr adds an unsourced claim to
>> the
>> > >> entry
>> > >> > for "rabbit": "A group of rabbits or hares are often called a
>> > 'fluffle'
>> > >> in
>> > >> > parts of Northern Canada."
>> > >> >
>> > >>
>> >
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabbit&diff=prev&oldid=148126554
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Apr. 29, 2008: The text of the Wikipedia "rabbit" entry (including
>> the
>> > >> > "fluffle" line) is copied over to New World Encylopedia, a site
>> run by
>> > >> Sun
>> > >> > Myung Moon's Unification Church.
>> > >> >
>> > >>
>> >
>> https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Rabbit&oldid=699288
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Feb. 17, 2010: The "fluffle" line is deleted from Wikipedia by an
>> > editor
>> > >> > ("Removed supposed naming of a group of rabbits as a 'fluffle', as
>> I
>> > >> can't
>> > >> > verify it").
>> > >> >
>> > >>
>> >
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabbit&diff=prev&oldid=344646745
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Sept. 29, 2013: Reddit user AaronM97 asks, "What's a fact you know
>> > that
>> > >> > will cheer me up?" Among the thousands of replies, user AmyEarhart
>> > >> submits
>> > >> > "a group of bunnies is called a fluffle."
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >>
>> >
>> https://web.archive.org/web/20130930183135/https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1nexqv/whats_a_fact_you_know_that_will_cheer_me_up/
>> > >> >
>> https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1nexqv/comment/cci0rsz/
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Oct. 5, 2013: Thought Catalog publishes "30 Random, Interesting
>> Facts
>> > >> That
>> > >> > Will Cheer You Up" based on the Reddit thread, including
>> AmyEarhart's
>> > >> > "fluffle" submission.
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >>
>> >
>> https://web.archive.org/web/20131020055608/https://thoughtcatalog.com/timmy-parker/2013/10/30-facts-that-will-cheer-you-up/
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Mar. 19, 2014: Buzzfeed publishes "64 Facts That Will Make You Feel
>> > >> > Incredibly Happy," which includes "a group of bunnies is called a
>> > >> fluffle."
>> > >> > The listicle links to the New World Encylopedia entry for "rabbit,"
>> > >> which
>> > >> > retained the "fluffle" line despite its removal from Wikipedia.
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >>
>> >
>> https://web.archive.org/web/20140319201849/https://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/facts-that-will-make-you-feel-incredibly-happy
>> > >> >
>> > >> > And from there it multiplied like rabbits all over the place!
>> > >> >
>> > >> > --bgz
>>
>

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