fuss

Etymology

Of unknown origin. Perhaps from Danish fjas (“nonsense”), from Middle Low German (compare German faseln (“to maunder, talk nonsense”)).

noun

1. (countable or uncountable) Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
   They made a big fuss about the wedding plans.
   What's all the fuss about?
   “Anthea hasn't a notion in her head but to vamp a lot of silly mugwumps. She's set her heart on that tennis bloke[…]whom the papers are making such a fuss about.” 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court
   But in the reader comments section beneath the FT piece, many couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. “I’m surprised to see the FT reporting this sort of thing,” one person wrote. January 25, 2018, Amelia Gentleman, “Men-only clubs and menace: how the establishment maintains male power”, in the Guardian
2. A complaint or noise; a scene.
   If you make enough of a fuss about the problem, maybe they'll fix it for you.
3. An exhibition of affection or admiration.
   They made a great fuss over the new baby.

verb

1. (intransitive) To be very worried or excited about something, often too much.
   His grandmother will never quit fussing over his vegetarianism.
2. (intransitive) To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust
   Quit fussing with your hair. It looks fine.
3. (intransitive, especially of babies) To cry or be ill-humoured.
4. (intransitive, with over) To show affection for, especially animals.
5. (transitive) To pet.
   He fussed the cat.