Logic and fudge

[Stephen Hodge]

John Oliver Perry writes:

> As for "fudge factors," yes, they can be employed by over-eager (not
closely
> self-critical, close to non-scientific?) scholars.  To fudge is not
> necessarily to be dishonest. The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd
College
> ed.,  lists:  "--tr. 1. To fake or falsify. 2. To evade (an issue
for example
> [as Elst above?]); dodge. --intr. 1. To act in an indecisive manner.
2. a. To
> go beyond the proper limits of something. b. To act dishonestly;
cheat.
> [Orig. unknown]"
>
> Note that the order of meanings shifts according to transitive or
> intransitive status.

It would seem that the semantic range of the word as used in the US is
different to UK English.  The relevent parts of the Oxford English
Reference Dic define it thus:

n.:  1.  nonsense; 2. a piece of dishonesty or faking
v.tr:  1.  to put together in a makeshift or dishonest way; fake
v.tr:  2.  to deal with incompetently
v.int:  to practise such methods

I wonder if the good Konrad Elst speaks British English or its
American version ?   As Oscar Wilde is supposed to have said of the
Americans, "Nothing divides us but a common language".

Best wishes,
Stephen Hodge