June 26, 2007

Urban Dictionary has three definitions for “furtle” and I wouldn’t say any of them are right. To me furtle is a smursh of bimble and furtive. To furtively bimble. Although I have to admit it’s not a term I’ve ever knowingly used. Jez knowingly uses it here and I’m not sure he’s right either.

7 Comments on “Furtle”

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  1. 1 Dave Shelton
    Jun 26th, 2007 at 11:02 am

    Your version makes a lot of sense but I think I’d only ever thought of it before as pretty much a straight synonym for bimble (without the furtiveness). But if that’s right then it’s kind of superfluous as bimble’s already there for that and doing a fine job. So you’ve talked me round.

    Also bravo for “smursh” rather than messing about with talk of “portmanteau words”.

  2. 2 Pete Ashton
    Jun 26th, 2007 at 11:40 am

    Smursh is easier to spell, although smursh itself is a smursh of smash and merge. It’s all very.

  3. 3 Marv
    Jun 26th, 2007 at 2:57 pm

    Why bimble when you can potter?

    Your web site looks very nice now, by the way. Almost like you found it in a skip.

  4. 4 Pete Ashton
    Jun 27th, 2007 at 10:17 am

    Pottering is somewhat more proactive. Like you’re pottering for something, however inconsequential. “Pottering around the garden” implies low-level weeding and tendering of roses. “Bimbling around the garden” could involve anything or nothing at all. “Furtling around the garden” should only be attempted with high walls and no overlooking windows.

  5. 5 Jeremy
    Jun 27th, 2007 at 10:39 am

    I think bimbling around the garden involves soft drugs, doesn’t it? I’d classify furtling as like rooting or farting — crude in context, but equaly likely to be an any-activity word.

  6. 6 Jez
    Jun 29th, 2007 at 1:45 am

    Furtle is like footle, but slightly more active. It’s nothing to do with bimbling, which is ambulatory.

  7. 7 Pete Ashton
    Jun 29th, 2007 at 7:43 am

    Footle?

    Ah, Footle. Right.

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