different between druther vs druthers

English

Etymology

A corruption of I'd rather or 'd rather.

Noun

druther (plural druthers)

1. (rare, chiefly in the plural) singular of druthers
   • 2004, Sherry H. Penney, James D. Livingston, A Very Dangerous Woman: Martha Wright and Women's Rights,

     The teacher told Martha that she had invited a neighboring planter to send his children to her school, but "he said 'Me & my wife had no eddication, nor any of my gals, but I would rather they never would have any, than go to school with niggers.' So he had his druther!"⁴⁸

See also

• druthers

Verb

druther (no infinitive, tenses, or participles)

1. (US, informal, often jocular) Would rather; would prefer to.

   I druther stay home today.

   We druther go swimming than go to school.

   • "Druther break cayuses any day, and twice on Sundays," was the reply of the driver, as he climbed on the wagon and started the horses.

Anagrams

• Redruth

English

Etymology

From the expression "I'd rather" (meaning "I would prefer to") often pronounced "I druther" in some dialects.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d??ð?z/

Noun

druthers pl (plural only)

1. (US, informal, often jocular) Wishes, preferences, or ways.

   If I had my druthers I’d eat in a restaurant every night of the week.

   • 1929, Harry McClintock, "If I Had My Druthers"

     "If I had my druthers, I would not be a king. I'd druther be just what I am than any other thing."

Usage notes

• The singular form "druther" is used with the same meaning, but much more rarely.

• The noun "druthers" is sometimes used in conjunction with the verb "druther" for increased comic effect.

  If I've got my druthers, I'd druther not.

  or, alternatively,

  If I've got my druthers, I druther not.

This double formation was popularized by the American cartoonist Al Capp (1909-1979) in the long-running Li'l Abner comic strip and was also featured in the song "If I Had my Druthers" in Li'l Abner: The Musical (1956).

Related terms

• druther

References

• Merriam Webster