different between futz vs putz

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

English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Yiddish ?????? (pots, “penis, fool”). Compare similar semantic developments in futz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?ts/
• Rhymes: -?ts

Noun

putz (plural putzes)

1. (slang, derogatory) Fool, idiot.
2. (slang, derogatory) Jerk.

   Synonym: schmuck
3. (slang) Penis.

   Synonym: schmuck

Derived terms

• putzhead, putz-head, putz head

Verb

putz (third-person singular simple present putzes, present participle putzing, simple past and past participle putzed)

1. (slang) Waste time.

   Synonym: futz

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Pennsylvania German Putz; compare German Putz (“ornament, decoration, finery”), putzen (“to clean; decorate”). Compare the above.

Alternative forms

• Putz

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?ts/
• Rhymes: -?ts

Noun

putz (plural putzes)

1. A decoration or ornament in the Nativity tradition, usually placed under a Christmas tree.
   • 1995, Joe L. Wheeler, Christmas in My Heart, Book 4, pages 12-13:

     The American custom of erecting a putz seems to have originated with the Moravians but the custom long ago spread to non-Moravian households. Essentially, the putz is a landscape, built on the floor or on a table or portable platform.

Verb

putz (third-person singular simple present putzes, present participle putzing, simple past and past participle putzed)

1. (Pennsylvania Dutch) To go around viewing the putzes in the neighborhood.

Portuguese

Etymology

Probably a euphemistic form of puta.

Alternative forms

• puts

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /?puts/, [?put?s]

Interjection

putz

1. (slang) Used to emphasize something that has gone wrong.

   Synonym: putz grila