different between frivolous vs futz

English

Etymology

From Latin fr?volus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f??v.?l.?s/
• Hyphenation: friv?o?lous

Adjective

frivolous (comparative more frivolous, superlative most frivolous)

1. Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner.
2. Of little weight or importance; not worth notice; slight.
3. (law, said of a lawsuit) Having no reasonable prospect of success because its claim is without merit, lacking a supporting legal or factual basis, while the filing party is, or should be, aware of this.
   • 2005, Factcheck.org^[1]:

     One of the major cost drivers in the delivery of health care are these junk and frivolous lawsuits.

Derived terms

• frivolent
• frivolously
• frivolousness

Related terms

• frivol
• frivolity

Translations

Further reading

• frivolous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• frivolous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f?ts/

Etymology 1

Probably from German Fotze (“cunt”).

Noun

futz (plural futzes)

1. (vulgar, colloquial, dialectal, derogatory) An objectionable woman

   Janet gets on my nerves. She's a dumb futz, ain't she?

Etymology 2

From German herumfurzen (literally “to fart around”) (herum- +? furzen), perhaps via Yiddish ????????????? (arumfartsn); alternatively, a euphemism for fuck.

Verb

futz (third-person singular simple present futzes, present participle futzing, simple past and past participle futzed)

1. To be frivolous and waste time [from the 20th c.]
   • 1969, Philip Roth, Portnoy's Complaint

     I am nobody to futz around with when I know myself to be four hundred per cent in the right.

2. To experiment by trial and error

Synonyms

• putz

Usage notes

• Used especially in the phrase futz around.

See also

• (experiment): frob, fooster