fodder
UK: ˈfɒdə | US: ˈfɑːdər
n. 1. Coarse food for livestock, such as hay or straw.
n. 2. (Figurative) Raw material or readily available information, often used uncritically.
The word "fodder" traces back to Old English fōdor, derived from Proto-Germanic fōdrą (meaning "food" or "nourishment"). It shares roots with Old High German fuotar (modern German Futter) and Old Norse fóðr. The core idea revolves around sustenance, originally for animals but later extended metaphorically to describe easily consumed material (e.g., media content). The "-der" suffix is a Germanic nominal ending, now fossilized in modern English.
Farmers stored extra fodder for the cattle during winter.
The documentary exposed how sensational news becomes fodder for public outrage.
Cheap grain is often used as fodder in poultry farms.
Politicians dismissed the report as mere fodder for conspiracy theories.
The journalist criticized social media for turning tragedies into viral fodder.