# Etymology of "The Fuzz" as slang for police **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804 "2003-09-15T20:55:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/41 "2016-03-13T02:43:47Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The more important point is that this is pure guesswork. There’s not a particle of evidence for this. How does guessing help? Because proposing a hypothesis that explains the observed evidence is part of the scientific process. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/42 "2016-03-13T03:35:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Because proposing a hypothesis that explains the observed evidence is part of the scientific process. I’m 99% sure etymology doesn’t work that way. But here’s the real answer from [slanghistories.com](http://slanghistories.com). > [@](#): > > Winfield Scott was known as “Old Fuss & Feathers” for his insistence on military bearing, courtesy, appearance and discipline. [See Wikipedia] When he culminated his career as General-in-Chief during the Civil War, northern newspapers went all-out, competing in writing glowing tributes to him, and his fame continued afterward when Civil War heroes became historic names. As police forces professionalized, they encouraged their constables to take more pride in their appearance. Many did so with specific reference to Scott and the dandiest squads became known first as “fussers” and then “the fuss,” a play on the term “the force.” As with “jass” the end sound changed to a “z” and around the same time as that shift in the 1920s, the term shifted to “fuzz.” Over time, the term changed from a positive to a pejorative and has not been revived since the 1960s. Pulled that out of my ass from a fake site, but it has a relationship with the way real-world slang works as well as a connection with the known etymology of “fuss.” And it’s an absolutely meaningless finger exercise. All folk etymology is. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/43 "2016-03-13T04:30:42Z")
So what’s your proposal? We don’t discuss any topic in which we don’t have an objectively factual answer? That’ll cut back on posting in nothing else. It seems to have been established that nobody knows the origins of the term “the fuzz”. So we can close the thread or we can attempt to answer the question by speculation. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/44 "2016-03-13T11:25:57Z")
> **[Why are the police called cops, pigs, or the fuzz?](https://www.straightdope.com/21343341/why-are-the-police-called-cops-pigs-or-the-fuzz)** > > A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD Fuzz has been in widespread use in the UK for many decades; it’s in Monty Python from the 70’s (i.e. the Salvation Fuzz), and almost certainly before that. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/45 "2016-03-13T12:53:38Z")
> [@eburacum45](#): > > [Why are the police called cops, pigs, or the fuzz? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2209/why-are-the-police-called-cops-pigs-or-the-fuzz) > > Fuzz has been in widespread use in the UK for many decades; it’s in Monty Python from the 70’s (i.e. the Salvation Fuzz), and almost certainly before that. But it’s U.S. slang originally, in print at least since 1924. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/46 "2016-03-13T13:33:43Z")
> [@Larry\_Bee](#): > > [hijack] > > Sorry, I’ve no idea where the term ‘The Fuzz’ came from, but this thread just reminded me of an old joke I heard ages ago… > > \*… A little old lady wanted to join a biker club. She knocked on the door of a local biker club and a big, hairy, bearded biker with tattoos all over his arms answers the door. She proclaims “I want to join your biker club”. > > The guy was amused and told her that she needed to meet certain biker requirements before she was allowed to join. > > So the biker asks her “You have a bike?” > > The little old lady says “Yea, that’s my Harley over there” and points to a Harley parked in the driveway. > > The biker asks her “Do you smoke?” > > The little old lady says “Yea, I smoke. I smoke 4 packs of cigarettes a day and a couple of cigars while I’m shooting pool”. > > The biker is impressed and asks “Well, have you ever been picked up by the Fuzz?”. > > The little old lady says “No, I’ve never been picked up by the fuzz, but I’ve been swung around by my nipples”.\* > > Sorry again - please continue… > > [/hijack] (Looks at date). So, not much chance we are actually going to get the punchline to this joke … > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > How does “rozzer” come from Robert Peel? “Rah” sound short for “Robert?” Weird. > [@SciFiSam](#): > > Not sure what you mean by rah. Rozzer coming from Robert is pretty self-explanatory, isn’t it? > [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > Slang substitution of a “z” for a consonant in somebody’s name is not unusual in Oz and in the UK. > > I know at least one Jeremy who answers to “Jez”, and who could forget the legendary “Bazza” …ie cartoon character Barry McKenzie in Private Eye. > > I also just remembered that one of my wife’s best friends, Tamsyn by name, is invariably referred to as “Taz”. I picked this up from reading British novels. Baz, Gaz, and Jaz are Barry, Gary, and James. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/47 "2016-03-13T15:56:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So what’s your proposal? We don’t discuss any topic in which we don’t have an objectively factual answer? That’ll cut back on posting in nothing else. > > It seems to have been established that nobody knows the origins of the term “the fuzz”. So we can close the thread or we can attempt to answer the question by speculation. Move it out of GQ, perhaps. Look at [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=783830). A guy in it is proposing to make c larger so that particles can go “faster” than c. The physicists in it are taking him apart piece by piece, but he keeps going. What you’re doing is the equivalent. The only difference is that we don’t have a squad of professional etymologists that everyone defers to on questions about etymology. It’s been established that this question doesn’t have an answer. Joke answers are allowed at this point. But if you publish what is obviously a joke as a serious answer, then you suffer the risk that you will be cut to pieces for spreading ignorance. I don’t see why etymology shouldn’t be given the same respect as physics. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/48 "2016-03-13T16:16:49Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > What you’re doing is the equivalent. Except for being the exact opposite. That poster is proposing something that defies the existing evidence and contradicts what is known about the subject. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/49 "2016-03-13T17:16:12Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > (Looks at date). So, not much chance we are actually going to get the punchline to this joke … It’s right there in the last line… The old lady interprets “picked up by the fuzz” to mean lifted by the pubic hair. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/50 "2016-03-13T17:34:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Because proposing a hypothesis that explains the observed evidence is part of the scientific process. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I’m 99% sure etymology doesn’t work that way. Trying to use the scientific method on a question of etymology is like trying to use your shiny new hammer to attach a nut to a bolt. It’s the wrong tool for the wrong job. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/51 "2016-03-14T01:29:27Z")
There’s an Irish term for the police, “shades”. I have no idea where that came out of but I suspect it is a Shelta term. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/52 "2016-03-14T02:19:27Z")
Another data point: when my late father-in-law wanted to speak to a decision-maker instead of the low-level employees, he would ask for “someone with some fuzz” =someone with age and authority, who would presumably have pubic hair. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/53 "2016-03-14T03:03:15Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > There’s an Irish term for the police, “shades”. I have no idea where that came out of but I suspect it is a Shelta term. The etymology is uncertain, but it may be from the Irish _séideog_, a policeman. The Irish word is attested at least from 1912, the Hiberno-English slang word from 1932. What, you may ask, is the etymology of _séideog_? I have no idea. The _-og_ suffix (“young”) suggests it may be a diminutive, but after that my imagination and knowledge of the language fails me. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/54 "2016-03-14T08:02:04Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > The etymology is uncertain, but it may be from the Irish _séideog_, a policeman. The Irish word is attested at least from 1912, the Hiberno-English slang word from 1932. > > What, you may ask, is the etymology of _séideog_? I have no idea. The _-og_ suffix (“young”) suggests it may be a diminutive, but after that my imagination and knowledge of the language fails me. Séideog is from séideadh, a blow of air or wind (cf. séideán, a gust). So, a little blow of air, but I don’t know of any reason why this would be used as slang for police. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/55 "2016-03-14T08:09:53Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > Séideog is from séideadh, a blow of air or wind (cf. séideán, a gust). So, a little blow of air, but I don’t know of any reason why this would be used as slang for police. Wild guess: something to do with surveillance or informers? You know, local members of the constabulary reporting gossip and rumours to the authorities in Dublin Castle, like the snivelling toadies that they are, and thereby getting decent people into trouble. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/56 "2016-03-14T10:38:15Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > (Looks at date) I picked this up from reading British novels. Baz, Gaz, and Jaz are Barry, Gary, and James. Pay the first two but think it’s Ja **s** , not Ja **z** for James. My Uncle James was called Jim by his in-laws, Jas by his parents and Jamie by everybody else. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/57 "2016-03-14T10:49:15Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > The problem is that the Shaz-Gaz-Daz nickname follows a pattern. “az” can only be used to replace the portion of a name after an “R”. So Jeremy can become Jez, but Jennifer can not. Daryl can become Daz, but David can not and so forth. > > For this reason I am highly skeptical of the idea that Rozza refers to Robert. It simply does not conform in any way to the naming convention. If the gentleman had been called Rory Peel it might be plausible. But I’d have to see some pretty convincing evidence to buy it for Robert. Not necessarily; I used to know a Gaz short for Gavin, and still know a Loz that’s a Louise, both in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/58 "2016-03-14T10:54:59Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I picked this up from reading British novels. Baz, Gaz, and Jaz are Barry, Gary, and James. Baz and Gaz, sure. Jas would be Jarrod/Jared. l. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/59 "2016-03-14T11:03:11Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Not necessarily; I used to know a Gaz short for Gavin, and still know a Loz that’s a Louise, both in the UK. That’s not to say that \*nobody \*has ever picked up such nicknames against the pattern. There are people called Albert who are nicknamed Gaz and people named Ralph who are called Tez and so forth. The point is that these names are essentially random. They don’t have any link to the original name. There’s no reason to believe that Gavin’s are called Gaz any more often then Engelberts. Maybe Robert Peel somehow acquired the nickname Roz. It’s exactly as likely as him acquiring the nickname Okie. The point is that with no plausible reason to believe he ever was nicknamed Okie, any folk etymology that suggests that the word OK derives from there is silly. Robert giving rise to Bobby makes perfect sense, It’s a standard nickname. Robert giving rise to Roz, nope. That needs evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804/60 "2016-03-14T12:58:26Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I know it’s a zombie, but as long as someone else has already awakened it, the word in Yiddish for pig is “chazzer,” not “rozzer.” There’s no word for “pork” that is different from pig-- why would there be? “Roast pig” is “bratn chazzer.” What? I always thought that “chazzer” meant someone who was greedy when it came to food. Someone who would eat and eat and eat all they could. They just stuff their faces until they explode. Remember that Monty Python movie with the exploding man? I know there is a connotation between pig “and” and “greedy” but I always thought the actual translation for “pig” was something different. I suppose that I could easily be wrong. After all, I never spoke Yiddish as a child and I just don’t know where this idea of mine could have come from. Do you mind if I ask, “where did your idea come from”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804.md?page=4)