pother

pother \POTH-er\, noun:

1. A commotion; a disturbance.
2. A state of nervous activity; a fuss.
3. A cloud of smoke or dust that chokes or smothers.
4. To make confused; trouble; worry.
5. To be overly concerned with trifles; fuss.

A few gestures allude fleetingly to the iconic Ivanov choreography—crossed wrists, flapping arms, a warding-off pose—but this ballerina is beset with dissatisfaction and discomfort, even though, when Warby's filmed face appears on the screen—huge, filling it—her gaze is calm and penetrating. That black-and-white image is succeeded by a pother of gulls alighting on water amid swimming ducks.
-- Deborah Jowitt, Ros Warby Spreads Her Wings and Takes Off Marching, Village Voice

The victor makes a big production of his triumph, flying to a high wall, flapping his wings and crowing. All this pother attracts an eagle, who grabs the braggart with his talons, and that's the end of that.
-- Katherine Powers, Boston Globe

Pother probably originated around 1585–95 meaning "disturbance, commotion," but is of unknown origin.