Upscuddle
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "upscuddle" means a scuffle, quarrel, or commotion - the kind of dust-up that draws attention at a barn dance or church picnic.
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synonyms: fight, scuffle, quarrel, ruckus, dust-up
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've only read 'upscuddle,' I never heard it growin' up. But it's a fun one to say, like lollygaggin' or sigogglin. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've only read 'upscuddle,' I never heard it growin' up. But it's a fun one to say, like lollygaggin' or sigogglin. Pronunciation
[UHP-skuhd-uhl]
/ˈʌpˌskʌ.dəl/
/ˈʌpˌskʌ.dəl/
Meaning & Usage
- Scuffle or quarrel (noun)
Martha:
Did you see the upscuddle at the church picnic?
Did you see the upscuddle at the church picnic?
Lou:
Sure did. Looked like they was gonna tear the place down.
Sure did. Looked like they was gonna tear the place down.- To scuffle or quarrel (verb)
Joe:
Them boys upscuddled out behind the barn.
Them boys upscuddled out behind the barn.
Eula:
Lordy, hope nobody got hurt.
Lordy, hope nobody got hurt.variations: up-scuddle, upscuttled
★ Think of "upscuddle" as a hill-country cousin of "dust-up" or "kerfuffle" - lively and specific. ★
Origin and Etymology
Recorded in Southern and Appalachian folk-speech collections as early as the 1910s, especially eastern Kentucky and Tennessee. It likely blends "up" (meaning sudden) with "scuddle" or "scuttle" (to run or scramble), producing a sense of sudden uproar or scuffle.
Usage Notes
- Old-timey and rare today; mostly remembered in oral histories and dialect writing.
- Can be used as a noun ("They had an upscuddle") or verb ("They upscuddled last night").
- Closely tied to upland Southern English - seldom used in mainstream speech outside the region.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 29). Upscuddle. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/upscuddle
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Upscuddle." HillbillySlang.com, 29 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/upscuddle.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Upscuddle." HillbillySlang.com. September 29, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/upscuddle.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site 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...