fuzz

¹

[ fuhz ]

noun

1. loose, light, fibrous, or fluffy matter.
2. a mass or coating of such matter:

   the fuzz on a peach.

3. Slang. a man's very short haircut, similar to a crew cut.
4. a blur:

   That photo is all fuzz.

5. a distorted sound from an electric musical instrument, especially a guitar, produced by means of an electronic device.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become blurred or unclear (sometimes followed by up or out ):

   He fuzzed up the plot line with a lot of emotional nonsense. The image fuzzed and then disappeared.

fuzz

²

[ fuhz ]

noun

, Older Slang.

, plural fuzz, fuzz·es

1. Usually the fuzz. the police; police officers collectively:

   The fuzz were called by a neighbor and three policeman showed up.

2. a police officer or detective:

   Fuzzes caught the burglar trying to escape through the back alley.

fuzz

¹

/ fʌz /

noun

1. a slang word for police policeman

fuzz

²

/ fʌz /

noun

1. a mass or covering of fine or curly hairs, fibres, etc
2. a blur

verb

1. to make or become fuzzy
2. to make or become indistinct; blur

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuzz¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; origin uncertain; perhaps a back formation from fuzzy ( def ); compare Dutch voos “spongy, woolly”

Origin of fuzz²

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuzz¹

C20: of uncertain origin

Origin of fuzz²

C17: perhaps from Low German fussig loose

Example Sentences

He’s like Clark Kent with peach fuzz: tall, slender, soft-spoken, favoring khakis and long-sleeved shirts and more earnest than a Peace Corps volunteer.

From Los Angeles Times

The video is grainy, but Dave Roberts’ thin mustache and Aaron Boone’s peach fuzz are discernible.

From Los Angeles Times

She leaves alpaca yarn outside so an Oak Titmouse can line her nest with the soft fuzz.

From Seattle Times

Though it looks like the leaves and stems are covered with a soft fuzz, it’s actually covered with sharp, hollow needle-like hairs that carry poison.

From NewsForKids.net

From furniture fuzz to clothing “accessories,” it seems to multiply faster than you can clean it.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• lint