In Appalachian and Southern speech, "foundered" means overstuffed, sick, or laid up after eating too much. It comes from an older livestock term used for animals that overate or went lame.
I didn't grow up hearin' 'foundered' that much - but I hear it a couple counties over. And you know about it if you ever have goats (which I do not recommend).
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I didn't grow up hearin' 'foundered' that much - but I hear it a couple counties over. And you know about it if you ever have goats (which I do not recommend).
Pronunciation
[FOUN-derd]
Meaning & Usage
- Sick or stuffed from overeating (adjective, figurative)
After supper
Uncle Joe:
I’m foundered on beans and cornbread.
- In livestock: sick or lame from overeating (adjective)
On the farm
Farmer:
Don’t let that horse at the grain - he’ll get foundered.
variations: overstuffed
★ When used of people, it’s lighthearted and a little humorous - like saying you "ate yourself miserable." ★
Origin and Etymology
From the veterinary term for horses that became lame or sick after overeating grain. Farmers carried it over into country speech to describe people who overate.
Usage Notes
Still heard in Appalachia and rural Southern areas. Less common in cities, but it’s instantly recognized by older generations and farm families.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "foun-derd." Rhymes with "floundered" without the "l."
Not exactly - it means stuffed to the point of discomfort or sickness.
Is it only about food?
For people, yes. For animals, it can mean lameness or sickness from feed.
Do younger folks use it today?
Less often, but you’ll still hear it in farm country or passed down in family talk.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 18). Foundered. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/foundered
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Foundered." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/foundered.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Foundered." HillbillySlang.com. September 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/foundered.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
I didn't grow up hearin' 'foundered' that much - but I hear it a couple counties over. And you know about it if you ever have goats (which I do not recommend). 
