Etymology Unknown. First attested around 1912 in a discussion of baseball; attested in reference to music around 1915. Numerous references suggest that the term may be connected to jasm and jism.
Entertainment, Lifestyle, MusicUsually A musical art form rooted in West African cultural and musical expression and in the African American blues tradition, with diverse influences over time, commonly characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms and improvisation.
You dare to bring your jazz songs into my house!1927, Samson Raphaelson, Alfred A. Cohn, The Jazz Singer, spoken by Jakie Rabinowitz (Al Jolson):
Of later composers of Jewish musical plays we mention Joseph Rumshinksy (born in Wilna in 1879), who gained popularity in New York. His music is based upon folk motives and influenced by "Jazz" rhythms and melodic curves1929, Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, Jewish Music: Its Historical Development, page 454:
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You all look out now, here I come, everybody step aside, I’m gonna show you where from! I'm gonna blow in this horn and make you know that jazz is the king and let it be so!1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Not too Far Tangent”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 1 (1899–1923: A Nothin’ but a Child), page 30:
You see, the kids, they listen to the rap music which gives them the brain damage. With their hippin', and the hoppin', and the bippin', and the boppin', so they don't know what the jazz…is all about! You see, jazz is like the Jello Pudding Pop—no, actually, it's more like Kodak film—no, actually, jazz is like the New Coke: it'll be around forever, heh heh.1995 April 30, Mike Reiss, Al Jean, “'Round Springfield”, in The Simpsons, season 6, episode 22, spoken by Bill Cosby (Dan Castellaneta):
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Figuratively, Usually Energy, excitement, excitability.
“You want something zippy there. Something with a bit of jazz to it!”1923 May 17, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “(please specify the page)”, in The Inimitable Jeeves, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:
He loves the risk. The danger. He loves the jazz.1983, Frank Lupo, Stephen J. Cannell, “Mexican Slayride”, in The A-Team, season 1, episode 1, spoken by B. A. Baracus (Mr. T):
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Usually The substance or makeup of a thing; unspecified thing(s).
and all that jazz
What is all this jazz lying around?
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I'm just going down to the shops and jazz.
Dad, I want to be a jock. All a jock needs is some hep patter and a real gone image. Now, they just don't teach that jazz in college.1975, Garry Marshall et al., “Richie's Flip Side”, in Happy Days, season 2, episode 21, spoken by Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard):
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Usually, With positive terms Something of excellent quality, the genuine article.
Suddenly, Bobby oozed his jazz into Gene's throat.1968, Len Harrington, In drag, page 7:
[…] making Glenn feel as though he could never stop shooting his jazz wildly up inside the man's brawny body!1974, Peter Pepper, Meatslinger, page 141:
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As he clung to the legs of his captor, he splayed his own out to the side, baring his groin and genitals to the eyes of all just as his jazz began to spurt out onto the stage.2018, Bert Shrader, A Gay Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum:
Etymology Unknown. First attested around 1912 in a discussion of baseball; attested in reference to music around 1915. Numerous references suggest that the term may be connected to jasm and jism.
US, Dated, Slang To have sex for money, to prostitute oneself.
‘Jazzing?’ Temple whispered […]. ‘Yes, putty-face!’ the woman said. ‘How do you suppose I paid that lawyer?’1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Vintage, published 1993, page 59:
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Slang To move (around/about) in a lively or frivolous manner; to fool around.
I have no patience with the modern neurotic girl who jazzes from morning to night, smokes like a chimney, and uses language which would make a Billingsgate fishwoman blush!1923, Agatha Christie, The Murder on the Links:
"In the old days, heaps of unmarried women were companions, and let me tell you, my dear girl, they had a much better time than they have now, with all this jazzing and short skirts and pretending to have careers. The modern girl hasn't a scrap of decent feeling or sentiment about her. Money--money and notoriety, that's all she's after. That's what we fought the war for--and that's what we've come back to!" "George, do keep to the point. Miss Dorland doesn't jazz--"1928, Dorothy L. Sayers, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club:
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‘Well, if you're going to jazz about the way you do, I suppose you'll need rouge at your age.’1958, Doris Lessing, A Ripple From the Storm, HarperPerennial, published 1995, page 119:
Twenty-four black men jazzed madly as trumpets exploded her eardrums in tom-tom time. Ebony orgasm flooded her with creme.1982, Arthur Winfield Knight, Kit Knight, Beat angels, page 7:
The thrill of the rimming soon made this guy beg for me to stop before he jazzed his nuts.1986, Winston Leyland, Hard, page 84:
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I reached around and began jacking off Marshall's prick as I was jazzing his ass.1988, First Hand - Volume 8, Issue 2, page 47: