different between spaz vs spazzer

English

Alternative forms

• spazz

Etymology

From spastic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spæz/

Noun

spaz (plural spazzes)

1. (slang, derogatory, offensive) A stupid or incompetent person.
   • 1981, Stephen King, The Jaunt

     In fact, it was the view of the scientists now in charge […] that the freakier they were, the better; if a mental spaz could go through and come out all right […] then the process was probably safe for the executives, politicians, and fashion models of the world.

   • 2006, Tiger Woods:

     “I was so in control from tee to green, the best I’ve played for years… But as soon as I got on the green I was a spaz.”

2. (slang, derogatory, offensive) A hyperactive person.
3. (slang, derogatory, offensive) A tantrum, a fit.

Usage notes

The offensiveness of this term and of spastic differs somewhat between the US and the UK. In the UK, they are very offensive. The term is more commonly used in the U.S. but is still offensive to many in the disability community. See spastic for more.

Related terms

• spack
• spastic

Translations

See also

• retard
• tard

Verb

spaz (third-person singular simple present spazzes, present participle spazzing, simple past and past participle spazzed)

1. (slang, derogatory, offensive) To have a tantrum or fit.
2. (slang) To malfunction, go on the fritz.

Usage notes

The sense “to malfunction” is the only sense that is not insulting to the object, and is cognate to spasm (compare seize up), but still may cause offense due to connections with spastic.

Synonyms

• (have a tantrum): freak out

Translations

References

Anagrams

• zaps

English

Etymology

From spastic. See -er.

Pronunciation

Noun

spazzer (plural spazzers)

1. (Britain, slang, offensive) A mentally retarded person.
   • 1991, Terry Johnson, Imagine drowning (page 19)

     None of the staff thought it was much fun, but the spazzers cheered up no end.

   • 2003, "mrgoat", Which is the best console overall (on newsgroup uk.games.video.misc)

     A PC isn't a console you spazzer gaylord

   • 2008, Patt Scott, Police Surgeon: Lethal Deception (page 5)

     "You accusing my mum of breeding a load of spazzers?"

Related terms

• spack
• spacker
• spaz, spazz