dudgeon

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʌdʒən/

Apparently from Anglo-Norman or Middle French, but the ultimate origin is obscure.

dudgeon (plural dudgeons)

1. (obsolete) A kind of wood used especially in the handles of knives; the root of the box tree.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Gerarde (1597) to this entry?)

2. (obsolete) A hilt made of this wood.
   • "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood" (Shakespeare, Macbeth)
3. (archaic) A dagger which has a dudgeon hilt.

Origin uncertain; perhaps the same as Etymology 1, above, or perhaps from Welsh dygen (“anger, grudge”).

dudgeon (uncountable)

1. A feeling of anger or resentment.
   • 1835, William Gilmore Simms, The Partisan, Harper, Chapter XVIII, page 224:

     To crown his discontent, his approach was utterly unnoticed by that capricious damsel. He dashed away in dudgeon from the house at an early hour, certainly less regretted by the maid than by the master of the inn.

   • 1913, George Bernard Shaw, “Act IV”, in Pygmalion:

     HIGGINS […] You may take the whole damned houseful if you like. Except the jewels. They're hired. Will that satisfy you? [He turns on his heel and is about to go in extreme dudgeon.]

   • 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter XI:

     [...] with girls of high and haughty spirit you have to watch your step, especially if they have red hair, like Bobbie. If they think you're talking out of turn, dudgeon ensues, and dudgeon might easily lead her to reach for the ginger ale bottle and bean me with it.

Usually found only in set terms, see below.

• humdudgeon
• in high dudgeon

• “dudgeon” in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press.