pother

American  

[poth-er] / ˈpɒð ər /

noun

1. commotion; uproar.

2. a heated discussion, debate, or argument; fuss; to-do.

3. a choking or suffocating cloud, as of smoke or dust.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to worry; bother.

pother British  

/ ˈpɒðə /

noun

1. a commotion, fuss, or disturbance

2. a choking cloud of smoke, dust, etc

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verb

1. to make or be troubled or upset

Etymology

Origin of pother

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Since Army and Navy make a great pother about secrecy in the design and construction of planes, questions had to be asked in Washington.

From Time Magazine Archive

Intent on his pursuits, impervious to the demonic, he will not notice the gods' dreadful pother being made above his head.

From Time Magazine Archive

Bedrock facts beneath the billows of press pother last week about the Gold Standard: France.

From Time Magazine Archive

As usual, there is a pother about the new-rules and an argument as to how they shall be interpreted.

From Time Magazine Archive

A dozen commonplace legs were offered the dog; it might have tasted the lot and procured no more pother than the passing of a few shillings, the solatium of a pair of trousers or so.

From The Happy Warrior by Hutchinson, A. S. M. (Arthur Stuart-Menteth)