Zz z noun 1 in hip-hop culture, used for replacing the letter ‘s’ when creating plurals US, 2002. 2 an outcast; a despised person US, 1963 Z noun an ounce of narcotics US, 1975. < the Z the demilitarised zone US, 1976 -z suffix used in the abbreviating of a forename, by truncating the given name to its first open syllable which is then closed with -z. Examples: Gary or Gareth becomes Gaz; Jeremy, Jez; Terry or Terence, Tez; Sharon, Shaz UK, 1984 za noun pizza US, 1996 zac noun a six-month or six-year prison sentence. From ZACK (six pence) AUSTRALIA, 1919 Zacatecas purple noun a potent variety of marijuana originating in Mexico. Named after the location and the colour of the buds US, 1974 Zachary Scotts; Zacharys noun diarrhoea. Rhyming slang for TROT S ; formed on the name of US film actor Zachary Scott (1914–65) UK, 1992 zack; zac noun a sixpence; the sum of six pence. Origin unknown. Perhaps from Scottish dialect saxpence (sixpence), or possibly Yiddish from German sechs (six). After the introduction of decimal currency in 1966, it came to mean ‘a five-cent piece’, or its value, a similar coin with about the same comparative value; dying out from the 1980s, now seldom heard AUSTRALIA, 1898. < not have a zack to be broke AUSTRALIA, 1989. < not worth a zack worthless AUSTRALIA, 1962 zaf tig; zoftig adjective sexy; buxom. From German/Yiddish for ‘juicy’ US, 1932 zag verb when faced with two courses of action, to take the right one. Most commonly used in variations of ‘I zigged when I should have zagged’ US, 1948 zags noun thin papers used for rolling cigarettes. From the branded name Zig Zag™, the dominant rolling papers during the hippie years US, 1970 zambi noun marijuana presumed to originate in the Republic of Zambia US, 1998 zambuck noun a member of St John Ambulance Brigade. From a proprietary name of an antiseptic ointment commonly used by them AUSTRALIA, 1918 zami noun a lesbian. From a misplaced juncture of the French les amies (women friends) TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003 Zanussi noun < on Zanussi drug-intoxicated; wildly excited or distracted. A variant of ON ANOTHER PLANET, from the advertising for Zanussi, a manufacturer of domestic electrical appliances UK, 1995 zap noun 1 amyl nitrite UK, 1996. 2 an electrical shock US, 1994 zap verb 1 to kill someone. A major piece of slang from the Vietnam war US, 1942. 2 to shoot someone. A Royal Navy variation on the previous sense UK, 1989. 3 to finish something off. A figurative vari- ation of the sense ‘to kill’ UK, 1999. 4 to defeat someone heavily US, 1968. 5 to give someone an electrical shock; to administer electric shock treatment to someone. Recorded as ‘administering shock treatment’ in ‘The language of nursing’, Philip C. Kolin, American Speech, p. 209, Fall–Winter 1973 US, 1995. 6 to operate electronically, often by remote-control, 2001. 7 to overwhelm someone US, 1967. 8 to move quickly US, 1974. 9 to have sex US, 1985. 10 to present, to give US, 1967. 11 to steal something UK, 2002. 12 to use the (remote) fast-forward facility on video playback to pass advertising; to use a remote control to switch between television channels (to avoid advertising, or simply to find a programme that engages you) US, 1983. 13 to send a text message UK, 2003. 14 to heat something up in a microwave oven US, 1999. 15 to give a student in college a notification of academic deficiency US, 1968. 16 in Canadian military aviation, to affix a sticker on which is the badge of a military unit onto an aircraft of another service CANADA, 1982 zap over verb to change your mind UK, 1972 zapped adjective 1 drug-intoxicated US, 1979. 2 spicy US, 1983 zapper noun any remote-control device used with domestic entertainment equipment – television, stereo, video, DVD player, etc US, 1981 zappy adjective lively, energetic UK, 1983 zap up verb to enliven something UK, 1988 Zat? 8see: OWZAT? zatch noun the genitals of either gender. Originally used of female genitals UK, 1950 Zazu Pitts noun diarrhoea. Rhyming slang for THE SHITS,formedon the name of the US film actress, 1914–65 UK, 1992 zazzy adjective ostentatious, showy US, 1961 Z-bag noun the bed US, 1968 Z-bars noun in motorcyle racing, handlebars each shaped like the letter Z, facing each other US, 1973 zebbled adjective circumcised UK, 2003 zebra noun a cadet officer in the US Air Force. An allusion to how conscious the officer is of his stripes US, 1946 zebra adjective racially mixed US, 1971 Zec noun an area in Quebec where logging and hunting are controlled or prohibited CANADA, 1992 zeds noun 1 sleep. Royal Navy slang; echoic, based on UK pronunciation of ‘z’, from the strip-cartoon legend ‘zzzz’ as an indicator of sleep. Used in phrases such as ‘racking (or piling) up the zeds’ (sleeping) and ‘zeds merchant’ (someone who likes to sleep) UK, 1989. 2 central nervous system depressants UK, 1983 zeek freak noun a person who greatly enjoys sex while under the influence of crack cocaine US, 1989 zeke noun in circus usage, a hyena US, 1981 Zelda noun 1 a girl or a woman, especially if dull or uninteresting. Possibly after Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–48) with the suggestion that the name is dull and old-fashioned; Zelda Fitzgerald was herself named after the character of a gypsy queen in a romantic novel US, 2002. 2 a high school girl who is a socially inept outcast US, 1961. 3 a witch. Perhaps from the character Aunt Zelda, a 2000-year-old witch in Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, from a 1962 comic book cre- ation, subsequently in animated and live-action television series UK, 2002 zeller noun an over-devoted surfer US, 1988 zen noun LSD. From the other-worldly state sought by Zen Buddhism UK, 1978 Zen noun MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy US, 1989 zen in verb to grasp completely through intuition US, 1967 zenith noun ketamine hydrochloride, an anaesthetic used as a hallucinogen US, 2002 zeppelin noun a poker player who contemplates long and hard before every bet or play US, 1996 zero noun 1 a person of no significance; a nobody US, 1979. 2 a gambler who is a chronic loser US, 1996 zero verb 1 to kill someone US, 1990. 2 to identify or locate someone or something US, 1955 zero-dark -thirty noun very early in the morning US, 1991 zero out verb 1 to kill someone. Korean war usage US, 1989. 2 to be killed US, 1992 zero week noun the orientation week preceding eight weeks of basic military training US, 1968 Z-game noun the game with the lowest betting limits in a gambling operation or cardroom. There need not be 26 tables to arrive at the Z-game; it is the lowest-stakes table in the place US, 1988 zhoosh; jhoosh noun 1 ornamentation UK, 2002. 2 clothing UK, 1968 zhoosh; jhoosh verb 1 to swallow something UK, 2002. 2 to tidy the appearance of something; to tittivate, to trim, to ornament UK, 1997 zhooshing noun shop-lifting UK, 1995 zhoosh off; jhoosh off verb to leave; to go UK, 2002 zhooshy adjective showy, ornate UK, 2002 ziff noun a beard. Origin unknown. Now all but obsolete AUSTRALIA, 1917 ziffed; be-ziffed adjective bearded. From ZIFF (a beard) AUSTRALIA, 1973 zig noun < get the zig to become annoyed or angry with someone UK, 2000 zig verb 1 when faced with two courses of action, to take the wrong one. Most commonly used in some variation of ‘I zigged when I should have zagged’ US, 1948. 2 to shoot down an enemy fighter plane US, 1986 Zig and Zag noun 1 a variety of LSD identified by a picture of television puppets Zig and Zag UK, 1996. 2 an act of sexual intercourse. Rhyming slang for SHAG, formed from a double act of television puppets, in turn named from an in-and-out movement UK, 2003 ziggerboo noun an eccentric or crazy person US, 1947 zig-zag noun 1 cigarette rolling papers. A brand name that acquired a generic meaning US, 1968. 2 sex with a prostitute US, 1954 zig-zag adjective unreliable; dishonest TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1960 zigzag man noun 1 marijuana UK, 2003. 2 LSD. Perhaps from a icon printed on the drug UK, 2003 zig-zig noun sexual intercourse. Familiar pidgin in the Far, Near and Middle East and Mediterranean, originally military; a variation of JIG-A-JIG. Used by US soldiers in the South Pacific UK, 1918 zig-zig verb to have sex. Familiar pidgin in the Far, Near and Middle East and Mediterranean, originally military; a variation of JIG-A-JIG US , 1918 zilch noun 1 nothing US, 1940. 2 a socially inept outcast US, 1965 zillion noun an almost unimaginably large number. One of several invented numbers used to convey a large number; probably coined by Damon Runyon US, 1944 zillionaire noun a multi-millionaire US, 1946 Zimbo noun a person from Zimbabwe NEW ZEALAND, 1995 zimmer noun agirlUS, 1990 zinc noun an obviously unfashionable child or youth. Pejorative. Commented on by the Plain English Campaign in October 2003 UK, 2003 zine noun an inexpensively self-published magazine devoted to such topics as hobbies, music, film and politics. An abbreviation of FANZINE, ultimately ‘magazine’ US, 1978 zined noun a fan magazine editor US, 1976 zinfandel noun serious trouble. Zinfandel is a wine from California that seems not to have travelled well CANADA, 1970 zing noun 1 energy, vigour US, 1918. 2 sex appeal. A nuance of the pre- vious sense US, 1961. 3 an amphetamine tablet US, 1997 Z-ing noun the practice of targeting tourists as victims of crime by the ‘Z’ as the first letter on the car number plate, designating a rental car US, 1994 zing verb 1 (of a bullet) to ricochet US, 2001. 2 to travel quickly US, 1920. 3 to affect someone suddenly and forcefully US, 1975. 4 to feel pleasurable sensations resulting from drug use UK, 1971. < zing it in to bet heavily US, 1979 zing! used to represent a sudden change in circumstance or emotion UK, 1919 zingaro noun in circus and carnival usage, a gypsy US, 1981 zinger noun 1 the punch-line of a joke; the last word US, 1964. 2 an arranged ending to a competition US, 1959. 3 a surprise, an awkward or unexpected turn of events US, 1973. 4 an exceptionally good example of something UK, 1955. 5 a very attractive woman US, 1959. 6 an amphetamine tablet US, 1993. 7 a hot pepper US, 1996. 8 ahard stare that is intended to impart bad luck on the recipient US, 1979 zingy adjective exciting, energetic US, 1948 zip noun 1 an Italian or Sicilian criminal brought to the US for criminal purposes, especially murder US, 1993. 2 a Viet Cong; a Vietnamese; any South Asian person US, 1970. 3 energy UK, 1900. 4 methamphetamine US, 1997. 5 cocaine. Probably from ZIPPED (drug-intoxicated) US, 1998. 6 used for representing the sharp sound of, for instance, a bullet or a mosquito as it moves through the air; specifically of bullets, it is often reduplicated: ‘zip-zip’ or ‘zip, zip’ UK, 1875. 7 nothing at all; zero US, 1900. 8 a hand-made gun, a zip gun US, 1967 zip verb 1 to move quickly US, 1852. 2 to kill someone US, 1982. < zip it to stop talking. From the image of zipping your mouth shut US, 1999. < zip your lip; zip your mouth to stop talking. The image of a zip fastener (zipper) sealing your lips; may be mimed rather than spoken; often as an imperative US, 1942 zip ball noun in pinball, a ball that leaves play without having scored US, 1977 zip-five noun a prison sentence of a maximum of five years US, 1964 zip gun noun an inexpensive, homemade gun, usually consisting of a tube, a grip and a rudimentary striking device US, 1950 zipped noun drug-intoxicated US, 1973 zipper noun 1 a scar US, 1978. 2 an electronic display of news or publicity which is scrolled across a screen fixed to a building US, 2003. 3 a short but well-formed wave US, 1988. 4 a trap play in poker US, 1996 zipperhead noun 1 a Vietnamese person. Offensive US, 1987. 2 a stupid person US, 1989 zipper ripper noun in craps, a roll of ten. Evolved from the more common BIG DICK (a roll of ten) US, 1999 zippily adverb energetically, swiftly UK, 1983 zippiness noun an energetic quality, speediness UK, 1924 zippity-doo-dah noun nothing at all. An elaboration of ZIP (zero) US, 1977 zippity-doo-dah! used as a nonsensical, all-purpose utterance. From the lyrics of a song in the 1946 Walt Disney film Song of the South US, 1992 zippo noun 1 nothing. An embellised form of ZIP US, 1993. 2 energy US, 1981. 3 a tank-mounted flame thrower. An allusion to the branded cigarette lighter US, 1966 zippo verb to set something on fire and burn it. An allusion to the branded cigarette lighter US, 1966 zippo job noun the burning of a village as part of a military sweep through the area US, 1988 zippola noun nothing at all US, 1994 zippy noun someone whose lifestyle mixes hippy ideals and modern technology. An acronym of ‘zen-inspired professional pagan’ UK, 1990s zippy adjective lively, bright, energetic, vigorous; fast, speedy US, 1904 zips noun the first decade of the 21st century UK, 2003 zip squat noun a very small amount. Two words that mean ‘nothing’ US, 1990 zip top noun A Jewish person. Offensive US, 1987 zip up verb to stop talking. The image of a zip fastener sealing the lips UK, 1999 zirconia flush noun in poker, four diamonds. Named after the synthetic diamond US, 1996 zit noun an acne pimple US, 1966 zitfarm noun a teenager. From the adolescent tendency towards ZIT (a pimple, a spot)-production in agricultural quantities US, 1981 zizz noun a snooze, a brief sleep; sleep. Military usage; echoic in as much as the cartoon-strip legend ‘zzzz’ is an accurate indicator of sleep UK, 1941 Z-game | zizz 718 zizz verb 1 to sleep. Military usage; echoic in as much as the cartoon-strip legend ‘zzzz’ is an accurate indicator of sleep UK, 1942. 2 to prepare food in a blender UK, 2002 zizzy adjective fancy, showy US, 1954 Z-list noun denotes all that is associated with a level of minor- celebrity so despised that obscurity is almost achieved. A notional social grouping that contrasts with A-LIST (top-rank celebrity); ‘Z-list’ inclusion is a matter of derogatory opinion US, 1979 zloty noun in poker, low-stakes betting. Named after the lowest value coin in the Polish monetary system US, 1996 zob noun an unlikeable, despicable person US, 1911 zobbit noun an officer. Royal Air Force lower ranks’ usage, from Arabic dabat (an officer) UK, 1967 zod noun someone who is socially inept to the extreme US, 1982 zog noun the US federal government. A basic piece of racist, right- wing political vocabulary in the US US, 2000 zoinks! used for expressing fear or surprise. Popularised as a signature line of the character Shaggy, voiced by Casey Kasem, on the television cartoon Scooby Doo, Where are You? (CBS, 1969–72). Repeated with referential humour US, 1972 zol noun a marijuana cigarette US, 1955 Zola Budd noun a police vehicle, especially a slow-moving armoured vehicle; a small bus, especially a Toyota. Township slang; after the South African-born British Athlete (b.1966) who was involved in a controversial incident in the 1984 Olympic 3,000 metres race. SOUTH AFRICA, 1985 zombie noun 1 a dull, personality-free person. From the belief of certain west African religions that corpses can be revived to walk the earth without souls US, 1941. 2 in poker, an expert player who shows no emotion, no matter how good or bad his hand is US, 1979 . 3 a policewoman. Usually in the plural UK, 1956. 4 among air- traffic controllers, a suspicious unidentified flying object UK, 1982 zombie verb to put someone into an apathetic condition. From a belief in soulless corpses that walk the earth (and film sets) having been revived by voodoo UK, 1990 zombied adjective very drunk. In a condition generally seen among the undead UK, 2002 zombie job noun during the Korean war, a night patrol US, 1957 zombie medicine noun tranquillizers. From the desired effect of the medication UK, 1996 zombie weed noun phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust US, 1981 zone noun a state of such concentration that consequent action seems instinctual. Often in the phrase ‘in the zone’ US, 1995. < on the zone lost in a daydream US, 1974. < the zone astateofbeing qualified for, and meeting all other parameters for, a promotion in rank. Originally Royal Navy, then army use UK, 1962 zoned out adjective mentally absent US, 1971 zone out; zone off; zone verb to absent yourself mentally, with or without the aid of drugs US, 1992 zoner; zonie noun someone from Arizona US, 1991 zonk verb 1 to fall asleep, especially as a result of drugs or drink. Also used with ‘out’ US, 1970. 2 to hit or strike, literally or figuratively US, 1969 zonked noun the recreational drug GHB. From the drug-intoxicated sense of ZONKED US, 2000 zonked adjective 1 intoxicated on a drug, especially marijuana; drunk. Also used with ‘out’ US, 1958. 2 exhilarated; intoxicated by an abstract thought UK, 1980. 3 exhausted US, 1968 zonker noun a drug user who indulges to excess. A cartoon strip by Garry Trudeau has had a laid-back marijuana-smoking character called Zonker since 1972 US, 1996 zonkers noun the female breasts. An abbreviation of BAZONKAS US, 1995 zonking adverb used as an intensifier of adjectives that convey positivity or largeness UK, 1958 zonks noun an indefinitely long time. A variation of YONKS UK, 1982 zoo noun 1 the section of a prison where ‘vulnerable prisoners’ are kept for their own safety. In Prison Patter, 1996, Angela Devlin notes that an ANIMAL is ‘a sex offender’, and animals are kept in a zoo UK, 1996. 2 a police station. Citizens’ band radio slang US, 1976. 3 in motor racing, the pit area where cars stop for fuelling and repairs US, 1980. 4 a brakevan (caboose) US, 1977. 5 a notional or actual grouping or assemblage of people; the place where they are assembled. Often mildly contemptuous UK, 1924. 6 a zoophile, a person with a sexual interest in animals UK, 2002 zoob noun a large penis AUSTRALIA, 1985 zoo book noun a student directory with photographs of each student US, 1968 zoobs noun the female breasts. A blend of BOOB(S)andBAZOOMS US, 1968 zoo doo noun compost made from multi-species faeces US, 1981 zooed adjective 1 drunk US, 1979. 2 crowded. Surfer usage US, 1988 zooie noun a cylindrical implement that holds the butt of a marijuana joint, 2001 zook noun a marijuana and tobacco cigarette; may also contain crack cocaine UK, 2000 zookeeper noun in motor racing, the official in charge of the pit area US, 1980 zoom noun 1 phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust US, 1994. 2 marijuana laced with phencyclidine, the rec- reational drug known as PCP or angel dust. ‘Zoom!’ is a comic book caption for the drugs’ combined effect US, 1982 zoom verb 1 to move very quickly. From aviation slang US, 1946. 2 to induce someone to commit a crime that they were not otherwise inclined to commit US, 1970 zoom bag noun a military flier’s flight suit US, 1991 zoomer noun 1 an energetic fool. From ZOOM (to move quickly) UK, 2000. 2 a person who sells fake crack cocaine and then quickly disappears US, 2002 zoomers noun the female breasts US, 1968 zoomie noun 1 a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy US, 1991. 2 in drag racing cars, an exhaust pipe that curves upward directing some of the exhaust gases to heat the tyres US, 1968. 3 a crew member of a military jet aircraft. A term used by the infantry and navy US, 1948 zooms noun the female breasts. A shortened form of BAZOOMS US, 1968 zoo-only adjective applied to the sexual predilection of a zoophile with no other interests UK, 2002 zoot noun 1 a ZOOT SUIT US, 1947. 2 a marijuana cigarette. Also called a ‘zut’ or ‘zootie’ UK, 1996. 3 a cigarette butt TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1956 zoot canary noun a fashion model. Beatniks’ use, therefore late 1950s UK, 1984 zooted; zooted up adjective drug-intoxicated US, 1986 zooter noun 1 in cricket, a non-spinning ball bowled by a spin- bowler. Coinage credited to Australian cricketers Shane Warne (b.1969) and Terry Jenner (b.1944) to describe a style that they developed AUSTRALIA, 2002. 2 a ZOOT SUITER US, 1994 zootie adjective emotionally unbalanced or drug-intoxicated US, 1990 zootied adjective very marijuana-intoxicated US, 1982 zoot suit noun a type of man’s suit characterised by its exaggerated style: padded shoulders, long jacket, high-waisted trousers, bright colours. Perhaps by reduplication of ‘suit’ US, 1942 zoot suiter noun a member of an identifiable group of zoot-suit- wearing young men, characterised by fashion and as flashy and vulgar US, 1943 zoot up verb to dress in a zoot suit and accessories US, 1947 zooty adjective fashionable, stylish. Derived from, and an allusion to, ZOOT SUIT US, 1946 zoo-zoo; zuu-zuu noun in prison, sweets, snacks, soda or any other special treat US, 1981 zoquete noun heroin. Directly from Spanish for ‘block’ or ‘chunk’ UK, 2003 719 zizz | zoquete Zorba the Greek; Zorba verb to urinate; an act of urination. Also used as a noun. Rhyming slang for LEAK, formed on the title of a 1946 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis and 1964 film UK, 1992 zorch verb in computing, to move or process quickly US, 1983 zorries noun inexpensive, practical foam rubber thong sandals US, 1990 zot noun zero; nothing US, 1965 zot verb to move suddenly or swiftly. Perhaps from the nonsense, all- purpose word – especially used as a substitute for God – coined by US cartoonist Johnny Hart (b.1931) US, 1974 zotz noun a planned murder; an assassination US, 1988 zotz verb to kill someone US, 1982 zotzed adjective drunk or drug-intoxicated US, 1992 zounds! used for registering a strong reaction. Compounded from ‘God’s wounds!’, modern usage is often ironic UK, 1616 zowie! used as a vocal representation of an instantaneous happening UK, 1913 z’s noun sleep. From Z’s as the representation of snoring in comic strips used with a verb such as ‘catch’, ‘cop’, ‘cut’, get’, ‘grab’ or ‘rip’ US, 1963. < stack z’s to sleep US, 1975 zubrick; zoob noun the penis. Mainly in soldiers’ Arabic shufti zubrick or shufti zoob (let’s see/show the penis), possibly enhanced by the rhyme on PRICK but not rhyming slang UK, 1958 zucchini noun an extended fibreglass field hut ANTARCTICA, 1991 zug up verb to cut hair unevenly TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1959 zuke noun in American casinos, a gratuity US, 1985 Zulu noun 1 a black person. Offensive US, 1960. 2 a large marijuana cigarette US, 1973 Zulu princess noun in homosexual usage, a young and attractive black man US, 1987 zulu time noun Greenwich Mean Time US, 1960 ’zup? used as a greeting. A slurred ‘what’s up?’ US, 1990 zut adjective stupid TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1984 zymotic; zymy adjective contemptible. A figurative application of the conventional senses relating to infectious disease and containing putrefactive germs, thus creating a synonym for LOUSY. Noted in use amongst teenagers UK, 1965 Zorba the Greek; Zorba | zymotic; zymy 720 . hobbies, music, film and politics. An abbreviation of FANZINE, ultimately ‘magazine’ US, 1978 zined noun a fan magazine editor US, 1976 zinfandel noun serious trouble. Zinfandel is a wine from California that. consequent action seems instinctual. Often in the phrase in the zone’ US, 1995. < on the zone lost in a daydream US, 1974. < the zone astateofbeing qualified for, and meeting all other parameters. variety of LSD identified by a picture of television puppets Zig and Zag UK, 1996. 2 an act of sexual intercourse. Rhyming slang for SHAG, formed from a double act of television puppets, in turn