# Slang for "Police" (origins}

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-police-origins/270737>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 23, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-police-origins/270737 "2004-10-23T06:21:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-police-origins/270737/1 "2004-10-23T06:21:56Z")

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My nephew and I are puzzled. Just when and how did the words “fuzz” and “pigs” become used to refer to police? I can recall hearing the terms when I was a kid in the '60s, but I can’t seem to find any references to how the words came into use in this context.

Thanks in advance.

–SSgtBaloo

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**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-police-origins/270737/2 "2004-10-23T13:41:25Z")

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[this](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=fuzz&searchmode=none) and [this](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=pig&searchmode=none) Were less than helpful except for the fact they these terms have been around for a long time

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-police-origins/270737/3 "2004-10-23T14:05:54Z")

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The OED gives “origin uncertain” for “fuzz.” First cite is 1929.

“Pig” isn’t clear, either, with the first clear cite dating from 1811. However, “pig” as a general insult dates from 1546 and would probably be involved.

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**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-police-origins/270737/4 "2004-10-23T19:53:38Z")

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Thanks, guys!

Moderator: since these answers seem to be about as authoritative as I am likely to get, I’d like to punt this over to IMHO to get some educated speculation on the subject as well. Would you be so kind?

Thank you.

–SSgtBaloo

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-police-origins/270737/5 "2004-10-23T23:52:59Z")

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> [@SSgtBaloo](#):
>
> Thanks, guys!
> 
> Moderator: since these answers seem to be about as authoritative as I am likely to get, I’d like to punt this over to IMHO to get some educated speculation on the subject as well. Would you be so kind?
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> –SSgtBaloo

Even though you are looking for _educated_ speculation, I will still send this to IMHO. 😃

**samclem** GQ moderator

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**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-police-origins/270737/6 "2004-10-24T00:26:18Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Even though you are looking for _educated_ speculation, I will still send this to IMHO.

Oh, snap! That’s harsh, man. 😃

I’ve never heard “fuzz”. Pigs, “popo”, Five oh (as in Hawaii, I’m sure), etc.