Etymology The noun is a blend of music + the letters ak from Kodak, a well-known brand in 1934 when the word was coined by the American inventor, scientist, and soldier George Owen Squier (1865–1934), who developed the original technical basis for the service. The verb is derived from the noun.
1
Entertainment, Lifestyle, MusicDerogatory, Often Easy listening music, whether played live or recorded, especially if regarded as uninteresting.
The sound you make is muzak to my ears / You must have learned something in all those years1971 September 9, John Lennon, “How Do You Sleep?”, in Imagine:
[T]he supermarket is very crowded, because of course it's the time of day when all other people with jobs also try to squeeze in some grocery shopping, and the store is hideously, fluorescently lit, and infused with soul-killing Muzak or corporate pop, and it's pretty much the last place you want to be, but you can't just get in and quickly out.2005 May 21, David Foster Wallace, This is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life, New York, N.Y.: Little, Brown and Company, published April 2009, →ISBN:
2
Derogatory, Figuratively, Often Something (such as speech) regarded as droning on and often boring, or soothing but undemanding.
Etymology The noun is a blend of music + the letters ak from Kodak, a well-known brand in 1934 when the word was coined by the American inventor, scientist, and soldier George Owen Squier (1865–1934), who developed the original technical basis for the service. The verb is derived from the noun.
1
Derogatory, Often To provide (premises, etc.) with Muzak.
2
Derogatory, Often To adapt or reduce (a piece of music, etc.) to the status of Muzak.
Willington had seen disco for what it was – the great Muzaking of rock and roll via a chintzy chorus, chintzy rotating mirror balls, and chintzy Arthur Murray twirling.1984, Peter LaSalle, chapter 13, in Strange Sunlight: […], Austin, Tex.: Texas Monthly Press, →ISBN, page 115: