Why police called fuzz

No one is certain why the police are called the fuzz. According to The Straight Dope, what linguists know for certain is that "fuzz" was first used to refer to policemen by criminals in the United States during the late s and early s. According to World Wide Words, this use of fuzz may be a variant of the word "fuss.

World Wide Words also suggests that fuzz may be a mispronunciation of "Feds," meaning federal agents. The names themselves are interesting, but how the monikers for cops developed over the world is a tale itself.

The United States has a rich history of slang nicknames for law enforcement personnel. Some are fun and some are complimentary, while others are rude and uncalled for. Of course, the police use jargon themselves. The term barney is often used as a slang term to describe law enforcement officers who seem a bit inept, bumbling or overly excitable. This particular slang term for police is based on the character Barney Fife played by Don Knotts on the popular television series The Andy Griffith Show.

The slang term cop is commonly used for police officers. There are several stories about the origin of this word. Some say that this term can be traced back to the 18th century when policemen were called "coppers," probably due to the copper content in the early badges.

The word was shortened to "cop" in the U. Another suggestion goes back even further, alleging that in Anglo Saxon times, the word cop actually meant to seize or take, and evolved into being used as slang for police due to the fact that their job involves arresting people.

The word dick is a long-time slang term for a detective. The word dick has been used in this way for centuries. Some people think that the term evolved as a nickname for detectives because 19th-century criminals used the word dick to indicate they were being watched, while others believe it's simply a shorter form of the word detective. While there is some debate about the origin of this slang word for police, it did not originate with the popular Dick Tracy comic strip.

However, the use of the term as the name of the title character of the long-running fictional detective led to the term becoming even more popular as a slang word for police officers, particularly detectives. One of the most famous television police shows from the s was the original Hawaii Five-O , a detective program set in Hawaii. This program actually introduced a slang term for cops that is still used today: five-O.

The word fuzz was commonly used as slang for police officers in the U. There are a number of stories about how this term may have originated. Some believe it began in England as a reference to the fuzzy hats worn by some police officers. Others believe it relates to the short and somewhat fuzzy haircuts new officers have upon graduation from the police academy. The use of the word gumshoe as slang for a detective refers to the fact that detectives often have to operate in stealth mode as they seek to figure out what really happened in the commission of a crime.

In the 19th century, gum rubber was used to make the bottoms of soft-soled shoes. The term came to be used for sneaking around quietly and eventually came to be used to refer to detectives. A detective, of course, spends a lot of time pounding the proverbial pavement and often works undercover. It would have been a faux pas right up there with ironing your blue jeans. The term is not related to Fuzzy Wuzzy who wuz a bear.

How better to insult the police, after all, than to mock them as ineffectual? The usage was probably confined to the criminal classes until the s, when it was taken up by protestors. Send questions to Cecil via cecil straightdope.

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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The Straight Dope homepage. Filed under: Crime, police and the law Origin Stories. Why are the police called cops, pigs, or the fuzz? By Straight Dope Staff May 31, Share this story Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: Why are the police called cops, pigs, or the fuzz?

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