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/

Meaning & Usage

- Scuffle or quarrel (noun)

Martha:

Did you see the upscuddle at the church picnic?

Lou:

Sure did. Looked like they was gonna tear the place down.

- To scuffle or quarrel (verb)

Joe:

Them boys upscuddled out behind the barn.

Eula:

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

Common Questions

Is "upscuddle" still used today?

Rarely. It’s mostly heard in older generations or in nostalgic writing about Southern and Appalachian life.

Does "upscuddle" mean the same as "dust-up" or "kerfuffle"?

Close. It usually implies a bit more intensity - an actual scuffle or near-fight, not just a mild commotion.

Is "upscuddle" Southern or Appalachian?

It’s rooted in Southern/Appalachian dialects, with its strongest historical use in the upland South.

Can "upscuddle" be a verb?

Yes. Speakers historically used it as both a noun ("They had an upscuddle") and a verb ("They upscuddled last night").

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.