Fuzz
/fʌz/noun
Soft, fine, short fibers or a light covering of such fibers; also informal for police.
Did you know?The exact origin of English fuzz is uncertain, but it likely arose as an expressive sound-symbolic word for something soft, frayed, or broken into tiny particles rather than from any ancient magical root.
Etymological Timeline
Early 17th Century
English
fuzz
“A small mass of loose fibers, lint, or down”
19th Century
English
fuzz
“A soft, downy covering or fine fluffy material”
Late 19th Century
English
fuzz
“Informal slang for a police officer or the police”
Modern English
English
fuzz
“Soft, fine fibers; something blurred or indistinct; slang for police”