puckeridgen.

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Compare puck n.³, which shows both of the same senses, and which is first attested later, although it is very uncertain what the actual chronological order of development of the senses of the two words was (and it is also perhaps possible that two originally independent words have become confused).It has sometimes been suggested that puckeridge is a compound of puck v. and ridge n.¹, the name of the bird being derived from the fact that it ‘strikes’ (affects) the animals' backs. However, this is unlikely in view of the apparently later attestation and different regional distribution of puck v., as well as the apparent lack of post-17th cent. evidence for ridge n.¹ in the relevant sense ‘back’ (although it has also been suggested that -ridge may show alteration of another word, perhaps rage n.). The puck- element has also been explained as showing puck n.¹, but this makes the ending of puckeridge difficult to explain. It has also been suggested ( W. B. Lockwood Oxf. Bk. Brit. Bird Names (1984) 121) that puck may show an alteration (perhaps for reasons of linguistic taboo) of suck v. (compare goatsucker n., and also quot. 1885 at sense 2).