Scared the pea wadden out of me

What is the meaning or origin of "scared the pea wadden out of me". I am not sure that is spelled correctly - peewaden, peawadden?

I found it in a volume of the "Dictionary of American Regional English." It was spelled "pee-wadding." But all the entry said was "See wadding." The problem with that is the DARE isn't up to W yet so we'll have to wait. I have heard the expression and the guy that said it was into old Kentucky long rifles. On that slim evidence alone, I'm wondering if wadding has to do with guns.