Where does foofaraw come from?

A foofaraw is either “a great fuss about something insignificant” or “an excessive amount of decoration.”

Etymologists think the word, which evidence now suggests is recorded in the American West in the mid-1800s, is based on the French fanfaron, “boastful,” and Spanish fanfarrón, “vain, arrogant.” These words are apparently meant to sound “showy,” like a fanfare.

Many more amusing Americanisms await in our slideshow “These Wacky Words Originated In The USA.”