Fuster
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A saddle tree maker.
"There were the Fusters, not to be confused with Fusters who wove fustians ; the Sadler's Fusters made the wooden frame for saddles, which used to be much more elaborate affairs than our modern saddles are."
- 1 To fret, whine, or complain.
"Nagle also remembers that Blaney 'didn't object to you telling him what one thought ... he didn't like fustering, that wouldn't please him, but he didn't mind you speaking your piece even if he might strongly disagree."
- 2 To fuss; to meddle or micromanage.
"Real hep, my people. Fustering mother. Meddling sisters"
- 3 To become marked with signs of age or decay.
"She will clean her cottage — though its condition of age and fustering decay may render it an almost impossible task."
- 4 To fumble; to work clumsily. Ireland
"Before the sun was at it's^([sic]) highest, I almost gave in (admitted) that the Jalap had me bet (beat), because there I was spending more time running like a redshank to the gripe and fustering (fumbling) with the galluses and my trousers, than at the mowing."
Example
More examples"There were the Fusters, not to be confused with Fusters who wove fustians ; the Sadler's Fusters made the wooden frame for saddles, which used to be much more elaborate affairs than our modern saddles are."
Etymology
From Middle English fuster, fuystour, fuystor, from Anglo-Norman fuster, Old French fuyster, fust, ultimately from Latin fūstis. Compare French fût, Old French fustier.
Possibly related to fuss or fester?
Related phrases
More for "fuster"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.