Etymology Dictionary

FADGE,  to turn out, succeed.  (E.)   'How will this fadge?' Tw. Nt. ii. 2. 34.—M.E. fegen, feȝen, to fit, suit; 'mannes bodiȝ feȝed is of fowre kinne shafte' = man's body is compacted of four sorts of things; Ormulum, 11501.—A.S. fégan, gefégan, to compact, fit; Grein, i. 285, 398.—✔PAK, to fasten, bind.  See Pact. [※]

ERRATA

We must dismiss the connection with M.E. feȝen, A.S. fégan.   The form answers rather to M.E. fagen, to flatter, coax, fawn upon; for which see Catholicon Anglicum, p. 120, note 3.   I think fadge may certainly be derived from A.S. fægian, to fit or adorn, allied to fæger, fair; see Fair.   This leads to the same ✔PAK, to fit, as before.   The A.S. fægian only occurs in the comp. áfægian, to depict; 'ánlícnesse drihtnes on brede áfægde,' i.e. the likeness of Christ depicted on a board; Ælfred, tr. of Beda, i. 25.   The changes of sense from 'fit' to 'depict,' and from 'fit' to 'speak fair,' or 'flatter' can readily be imagined to be probable.