Z

Z — zoography (n.)

Z

not a native letter in Old English; in Anglo-French words it represents the "ts" sound (as in Anglo-French fiz, from Latin filius, modern Fitz); from late 13c. it began to be used for the voiced "s" sound and had fully taken that role by 1400. For letter name, see zed.ETD Z.2

Series of zs to represent a buzzing sound first attested 1852; zees "spell of sleep, a nap" is slang first recorded 1963, American English student slang.ETD Z.3

za (n.)

U.S. student slang shortening of pizza, attested from 1968.ETD za (n.).2

Zacchaeus

masc. proper name, from Late Latin Zacchaeus, from Greek Zakkhaios, from Hebrew zakkay, literally "pure, innocent," from zakhah "was clean, was pure."ETD Zacchaeus.2

Zachariah

masc. proper name, Late Latin Zacharias, from Greek Zakharias, from Hebrew Zekharyahu, literally "the Lord has remembered," from zakhar "he remembered." Shortened familiarly to Zack or Zach.ETD Zachariah.2

zaftig (adj.)

"alluringly plump, curvaceous, buxom," 1937, from Yiddish zaftik, literally "juicy," from zaft "juice," from Middle High German saft "juice" (see sap (n.1)).ETD zaftig (adj.).2

zag (v.)

1793, from zig-zag (q.v.).ETD zag (v.).2

zaibatsu

1937, from Japanese zaibatsu, from zai "wealth" + batzu "clique."ETD zaibatsu.2

Zaire

African nation (1971-1997), from an early alternative name of the Congo River, from Kikongo nzai, dialectal form of nzadi "river."ETD Zaire.2

zakat (n.)

obligatory Islamic tax for religious purposes, 1802, from Persian zakat, etc., from Arabic zakah.ETD zakat (n.).2

Zamboni (n.)

proprietary name of a machine used to resurface ice skating rinks, 1957, trademark of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Paramount, Calif.ETD Zamboni (n.).2

zany (adj.)

1610s, from zany (n.). Related: Zanily; zaniness.ETD zany (adj.).2

zany (n.)

comic performer, 1580s, from French zani, from Italian zani, zanni "a zany, clown," originally Zanni, Venetian dialect variant of Gianni, pet form of Giovanni "John;" thus equivalent to English Jack. A stock character in old comedies, he aped the principal actors.ETD zany (n.).2

Zanzibar

island off East Africa, from Zengi, name of a local people, said to mean "black," + Arabic barr "coast, shore." Related: Zanzibari.ETD Zanzibar.2

zap

1929 as a sound, 1942 as a verb; a comic strip word (especially from "Buck Rogers in the Twenty-Fifth Century"), of imitative origin. Meaning "erase electronically" is 1982. Related: Zapped; zapping.ETD zap.2

zapper (n.)

electrical pest-killer, 1970, from zap.ETD zapper (n.).2

Zarathustra

from Avestan Zarathushtra (see Zoroastrian). Related: Zarathustrian.ETD Zarathustra.2

zarf (n.)

"holder for a coffee cup," 1836, from Arabic zarf "vessel."ETD zarf (n.).2

zeal (n.)

"passionate ardor in pursuit of an objective or course of action," late 14c., from Old French zel (Modern French zèle) and directly from Late Latin zelus "zeal, emulation" (source also of Italian zelo, Spanish celo), a Church word, from Greek zēlos "ardor, eager rivalry, emulation," "a noble passion" [Liddell & Scott], but also "jealousy;" from PIE *ya- "to seek, request, desire." From mid-15c. as "devotion."ETD zeal (n.).2

zealot (n.)

early 14c., "member of a militant 1st century Jewish sect which fiercely resisted the Romans in Palestine," from Late Latin zelotes, from Greek zēlōtēs "one who is a zealous follower," from zēloōn "to be zealous," from zēlos "zeal" (see zeal). Extended sense of "a fanatical enthusiast" first recorded 1630s (earlier in this sense was zelator, mid-15c.).ETD zealot (n.).2

zealotry (n.)

"excessive or undue zeal, fanaticism," 1650s, from zealot + -ry.ETD zealotry (n.).2

zealous (adj.)

"full of zeal" (in the service of a person or cause), 1520s, from Medieval Latin zelosus "full of zeal" (source of Italian zeloso, Spanish celoso), from zelus (see zeal). The sense "fervent, inspired" was earlier in English in jealous (late 14c.), which is the same word but come up through French. Related: Zealously, zealousness.ETD zealous (adj.).2

zebra (n.)

c. 1600, from Italian zebra, perhaps via Portuguese, earlier applied to a now-extinct wild ass, of uncertain origin, said to be Congolese [OED], or Amharic [Klein], but perhaps ultimately from Latin equiferus "wild horse," from equus "horse" (see equine) + ferus (see fierce). Related: Zebrine; zebroid.ETD zebra (n.).2

zebu (n.)

Asiatic ox, 1774, from French zebu, ultimately of Tibetan origin. First shown in Europe at the Paris fair of 1752.ETD zebu (n.).2

Zebulon

masc. proper name, Biblical son of Jacob by Leah, from Hebrew Zebhulun, from zebhul "a dwelling" + diminutive suffix -on (see Genesis xxx.20).ETD Zebulon.2

Zechariah

masc. proper name, Biblical 11th of the Twelve Prophets; see Zachariah.ETD Zechariah.2

zed (n.)

"the name of the letter Z in the alphabet," c. 1400, probably from Old French zede, from Late Latin zeta, from Greek zēta, from Hebrew zayin, letter name, literally "weapon;" so called in reference to the shape of this letter in ancient Hebrew. U.S. pronunciation zee is first attested 1670s. Other dialectal names for the letter are izzard, ezod, uzzard, and zod.ETD zed (n.).2

zee (n.)

"the letter Z," 1670s, now more common in American English.ETD zee (n.).2

zein (n.)

simple protein obtained from maize and wheat, 1822, from zea, Late Latin name for "spelt," from Greek zeia "one-seeded wheat, barley, corn" (from PIE root *yewo-) + -in (2).ETD zein (n.).2

Zeiss (adj.)

in reference to spy-glasses or binoculars, 1905, from the firm founded by German optical instrument manufacturer Carl Zeiss (1816-1888).ETD Zeiss (adj.).2

zeitgeist (n.)

1848, from German Zeitgeist (Herder, 1769), "spirit of the age," literally "time-spirit," from Zeit "time" (from Proto-Germanic *tidiz "division of time," from PIE root *da- "to divide") + Geist "spirit" (see ghost (n.)). Carlyle has it as a German word in "Sartor Resartus" (1840) and translates it as "Time-Spirit."ETD zeitgeist (n.).2

zek (n.)

"Russian condemned person in a prison or labor camp," 1968, from Russian zek, probably representing a vocalization of z/k, abbreviation of zaklyuchennyi "prisoner."ETD zek (n.).2

Zen (n.)

school of Mahayana Buddhism, 1727, from Japanese, from Chinese ch'an, ultimately from Sanskrit dhyana "thought, meditation," from PIE root *dheie- "to see, look" (source also of Greek sēma "sign, mark, token;" see semantic). As an adjective from 1881.ETD Zen (n.).2

Zend (n.)

1715, "Parsee sacred book" (in full, Zend-Avesta, 1620s), from Old Persian zend, from Pahlavi zand "commentary," from Avestan zainti- "knowledge," from PIE root *gno- "to know." First used 1771 in reference to the language of the Zend-Avesta by French scholar Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron (1731-1805).ETD Zend (n.).2

zenith (n.)

"point of the heavens directly overhead at any place," late 14c., from Old French cenith (Modern French zénith), from Medieval Latin cenit, senit, bungled scribal transliterations of Arabic samt "road, path," abbreviation of samt ar-ras, literally "the way over the head." Letter -m- misread as -ni-.ETD zenith (n.).2

The Medieval Latin word could as well be influenced by the rough agreement of the Arabic term with classical Latin semita "sidetrack, side path" (notion of "thing going off to the side"), from se- "apart" + *mi-ta-, a suffixed form of PIE root *mei- (1) "to change, go, move." Figurative sense of "highest point or state" is from c. 1600.ETD zenith (n.).3

zeno-

late 20c. word-forming element used in reference to the planet Jupiter, from Greek zeno-, combining form from Zeus (see Zeus; also compare Zenobia).ETD zeno-.2

Zenobia

fem. proper name, from Greek Zenobia, literally "the force of Zeus," from Zen, collateral form of Zeus, + bia "strength, force," cognate with Sanskrit jya "force, power" (see Jain).ETD Zenobia.2

Zenonian (adj.)

1843, pertaining to one of two Greek thinkers: Zeno of Elea ("Zeno of the Paradoxes," 5c. B.C.E.), who disproved the possibility of motion; and Zeno of Citium (c. 300 B.C.E.), founder of stoicism.ETD Zenonian (adj.).2

zep (n.)

abbreviation of zeppelin, attested by 1915.ETD zep (n.).2

Zephaniah

masc. proper name, Biblical ninth of the prophets, from Hebrew Tzephanyah "the Lord has hidden."ETD Zephaniah.2

zephyr (n.)

mid-14c., from Old English Zefferus, from Latin Zephyrus (source also of French zéphire, Spanish zefiro, Italian zeffiro), from Greek Zephyros "the west wind" (sometimes personified as a god), probably related to zophos "the west, the dark region, darkness, gloom." Extended sense of "mild breeze" is c. 1600. Related: Zephyrean.ETD zephyr (n.).2

zeppelin (n.)

1900, from German Zeppelin, short for Zeppelinschiff "Zeppelin ship," after Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838-1917), German general who perfected its design. Compare blimp. Related: Zeppelinous.ETD zeppelin (n.).2

zero (n.)

"figure which stands for naught in the Arabic notation," also "the absence of all quantity considered as quantity," c. 1600, from French zéro or directly from Italian zero, from Medieval Latin zephirum, from Arabic sifr "cipher," translation of Sanskrit sunya-m "empty place, desert, naught" (see cipher (n.)).ETD zero (n.).2

A brief history of the invention of "zero" can be found here. Meaning "worthless person" is recorded from 1813. As an adjective from 1810. Zero tolerance first recorded 1972, originally U.S. political language. Zero-sum in game theory is from 1944 (von Neumann), indicating that if one player wins X amount the other or others must lose X amount.ETD zero (n.).3

zero (v.)

in zero in, 1944, from zero (n.); the image is from instrument adjustment to a setting of "zero" (1909 in this sense, originally in rifle-shooting). Related: Zeroed; zeroing.ETD zero (v.).2

zest (n.)

1670s, from French zeste "piece of orange or lemon peel used as a flavoring," of unknown origin. Sense of "thing that adds flavor" is 1709; that of "keen enjoyment" first attested 1791.ETD zest (n.).2

zestful (adj.)

1797, from zest + -ful. Related: Zestfully; zestfulness.ETD zestful (adj.).2

zesty (adj.)

1789, from zest + -y (2). Related: Zestily; zestiness.ETD zesty (adj.).2

zeta (n.)

sixth letter of the Greek alphabet; see zed.ETD zeta (n.).2

zetetic (adj.)

"proceeding by inquiry," 1640s, from Modern Latin zeteticus, from Greek zetetikos "searching, inquiring," from zetetos, verbal adjective of zetein "seek for, inquire into." Related: Zetetical.ETD zetetic (adj.).2

Zeus

supreme god of the ancient Greeks and master of the others, 1706, from Greek, from PIE *dewos- "god" (source also of Latin deus "god," Old Persian daiva- "demon, evil god," Old Church Slavonic deivai, Sanskrit deva-), from root *dyeu- "to shine," in derivatives "sky, heaven, god." The god-sense is originally "shining," but "whether as originally sun-god or as lightener" is not now clear.ETD Zeus.2

zeugma (n.)

1580s, "a single word (usually a verb or adjective) made to refer to two or more nouns in a sentence" (but properly applying to only one of them), from Greek zeugma, "a zeugma; that which is used for joining; boat bridge," literally "a yoking," from zeugnynai "to yoke" (from PIE root *yeug- "to join").ETD zeugma (n.).2

Ziegfeld

in reference to showgirls or stage revues, 1913, from Florenz Ziegfeld (1869-1932), U.S. theatrical producer, who staged annual "follies" from 1907-1931.ETD Ziegfeld.2

zig (v.)

1969, from zig-zag.ETD zig (v.).2

ziggurat (n.)

also zikkurat, 1858, from Assyrian ziqquratu "height, pinnacle," from zaqaru "to be high."ETD ziggurat (n.).2

zig-zag (n.)

also zigzag, 1712, from French zigzag (1670s), perhaps from German Zickzack (though this is attested only from 1703), possibly a reduplication of Zacke "tooth, prong." Earliest use in German is in reference to military siege approaches. Originally in English used to describe the layout of certain garden paths. As an adjective from 1750; the verb is recorded from 1774. The brand of cigarette paper is from 1909. Related: Zig-zagged; zig-zagging.ETD zig-zag (n.).2

Zika (n.)

virus, by 1952, discovered 1947 and named for the Zika Forest of Uganda, where it was first found.ETD Zika (n.).2

zilch (n.)

"nothing," 1957; "insignificant person," 1933, from use of Zilch as a generic comical-sounding surname for an insignificant person (especially Joe Zilch). There was a Mr. Zilch (1931), comic character in the magazine "Ballyhoo," and the use perhaps originated c. 1922 in U.S. college or theater slang. Probably a nonsense syllable, suggestive of the end of the alphabet, but Zilch is an actual German surname of Slavic origin.ETD zilch (n.).2

zill (n.)

"brass finger cymbal used (four at a time) by belly-dancers in certain performances," by 1976, from Turkish zil "cymbal." Related: Zills.ETD zill (n.).2

zillion (n.)

by 1916, arbitrary humorous coinage with no definite numerical value; a 1922 representation of youthful exaggeration in a magazine story has billion-rillion-zillion years. Compare jillion, gazillion.ETD zillion (n.).2

Zimbabwe

southern African nation, 1980, named for an ancient city there, from Bantu zimba we bahwe "houses of stones," from zimba, plural of imba "house" + bahwe "stones." Previously known as Rhodesia (1964-80). Related: Zimbabwean.ETD Zimbabwe.2

zinc (n.)

1650s, zinke, from German Zink, perhaps related to Zinke "prong, point;" said to have been used first by Paracelsus (c. 1526) on analogy of the form of its crystals after smelting. Zinke is from Old High German zint "a point, jag," from Proto-Germanic *teng- "tine" (source also of Old Norse tindr "point, top, summit," Old English tind "prong, spike"), from PIE *denk- "to bite." Spelling with -c- is from 1813, from French influence.ETD zinc (n.).2

zine (n.)

1965, short for fanzine.ETD zine (n.).2

zinfandel (n.)

1896, "red or white dry California wine," origin uncertain; used earlier as the name of the grape from which it was made (1880). The wine itself is said to have been known in U.S. since 1829. Some wine experts suggest a corruption of the Austrian grape name Zierfandler, though these grapes are not related to those of zinfandel. According to a now-extinct internet article (formerly at http://ww3.stratsplace.com/):ETD zinfandel (n.).2

zing (n.)

1911, "high pitched sound," of echoic origin. Slang meaning "energy, zest" is attested from 1918. Verb is from 1920; meaning "to deliver a stinging witticism or retort" is by 1975.ETD zing (n.).2

zinger (n.)

"cruel quip," 1970, from zing + -er (1). Earlier it was baseball slang for "fastball" (by 1957).ETD zinger (n.).2

zinnia (n.)

genus of herbs of the aster family, 1767, from Modern Latin (Linnæus, 1763), named for German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn (1729-1759) + abstract noun ending -ia.ETD zinnia (n.).2

Zion

late Old English Sion, from Greek Seon, from Hebrew Tsiyon, name of a Canaanite hill fortress in Jerusalem captured by David and called in the Bible "City of David." It became the center of Jewish life and worship.ETD Zion.2

Zionism (n.)

1896, "movement for forming (later supporting) a Jewish national state in Palestine," from German Zionismus (from Zion + Latin-derived suffix -ismus; see -ism); the German word is first attested 1886 in "Selbstemancipation," by "Matthias Acher" (pseudonym of Nathan Birnbaum (1864-1937)).ETD Zionism (n.).2

Zionist

1896 (adj. and noun), from Zion + -ist.ETD Zionist.2

zip (v.1)

"move rapidly," 1852, of echoic origin. Meaning "close with a zipper" is from 1932. Related: Zipped; zipping.ETD zip (v.1).2

zip (v.2)

"to close or fasten by means of a zipper," 1932, back-formation from zipper (n.). Related: Zipped; zipping; zipless.ETD zip (v.2).2

ZIP (adj.)

1963, in U.S. postal ZIP code, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, no doubt chosen with conscious echo of zip (v.1). Alternative post code is attested by 1967 in Australia.ETD ZIP (adj.).2

zip (n.1)

"sound of something moving rapidly," 1875, imitative. Zip gun "homemade pistol" is attested by 1950.ETD zip (n.1).2

zip (n.2)

"zero," 1900, student slang for a grade of zero on a test, etc.; of unknown origin; compare zilch.ETD zip (n.2).2

zipper (n.)

1925, probably an agent noun from zip (v.1). The trademark taken out on the name that year applied to a boot with zippers, not to the "lightning fastener" itself, which was so called by 1927.ETD zipper (n.).2

zippy (adj.)

1904, from zip (n.) "energy, force" (1900, from zip (v.1)) + -y (2).ETD zippy (adj.).2

Zippo (n.)

proprietary name of a brand of cigarette lighter, patented 1934 by Zippo Manufacturing Co., Bradford, Pa.ETD Zippo (n.).2

zircon (n.)

1794, circon, also jargon, new name given in chemistry to jacinth, from German Zirkon (Klaproth, 1789), which probably is from 18c. French jargon, a vague mineral word used of high-quality diamond-like gemstones; it has been traced to Medieval Latin jargonce, which is of uncertain origin. Compare Italian giargone, from the same source.ETD zircon (n.).2

zirconium (n.)

metallic chemical element, 1808, coined in Modern Latin by German chemist and mineralogist Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1743-1817) in 1789; so called because it was found in zircon.ETD zirconium (n.).2

zit (n.)

"acne pimple," 1966, originally U.S. teenager slang, of unknown origin.ETD zit (n.).2

zither (n.)

stringed musical instrument, 1850, from German Zither, from Old High German zitara, from Latin cithara, from Greek kithara (see guitar).ETD zither (n.).2

ziti (n.)

type of tubular pasta, plural of zita (1845), from Italian, said to be a dialect word for "bridegroom."ETD ziti (n.).2

zloty (n.)

monetary unit of Poland, 1842, from Polish złoty, literally "of gold," from złoto "gold," related to Russian zoloto, Czech zlato "gold," from suffixed form of PIE root *ghel- (2) "to shine," with derivatives denoting gold (the "bright" metal); see gold.ETD zloty (n.).2

zoa (n.)

plural of zoon (q.v.).ETD zoa (n.).2

zoanthropy (n.)

form of insanity in which a man imagines himself to be another type of beast, 1845, from French zoanthrope or directly from Modern Latin zoanthropia, from Greek zoion "animal" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live") + anthrōpos "man" (see anthropo-).ETD zoanthropy (n.).2

zodiac (n.)

late 14c., from Old French zodiaque, from Latin zodiacus "zodiac," from Greek zodiakos (kyklos) "zodiac (circle)," literally "circle of little animals," from zodiaion, diminutive of zoion "animal" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live").ETD zodiac (n.).2

Libra is not an animal, but it was not a zodiac constellation to the Greeks, who reckoned 11 but counted Scorpio and its claws (including what is now Libra) as a "double constellation." Libra was figured back in by the Romans. In Old English the zodiac was twelf tacna "the twelve signs," and in Middle English also Our Ladye's Waye and the Girdle of the Sky.ETD zodiac (n.).3

zodiacal (adj.)

1570s, from zodiac + -al (1).ETD zodiacal (adj.).2

Zoe

fem. proper name, Greek, literally "life," from PIE root *gwei- "to live."ETD Zoe.2

zoetrope (n.)

"optical instrument which exhibits pictures as if alive and in action," 1867, literally "wheel of life," from Greek zoe "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live") + trope "a turn" (from PIE root *trep- "to turn").ETD zoetrope (n.).2

Zohar (n.)

Jewish mystical commentary on the Pentateuch, 1680s, Hebrew, literally "light, splendor."ETD Zohar (n.).2

zoic (adj.)

"pertaining to animal life," 1863, from Greek zoikos, from zoion "animal," from PIE root *gwei- "to live."ETD zoic (adj.).2

zollverein (n.)

1843, from German Zollverein, literally "customs union," from Zoll "toll" (see toll (n.)) + Verein "union," from vereinen "to unite," from ver- + ein "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique").ETD zollverein (n.).2

zombie (n.)

also zombi, jumbie, 1788, possibly representing two separate words, one relating to the dead and the other to authority figures, but if so historically these were not kept distinct in English-speaking usage. The oldest attested sense in English is "'spirits of dead wicked men [...] that torment the living.'" The sense of "reanimated corpse" is by 1929, introduced in the work of William Seabrook who observed this sense as a uniquely Haitian concept. The word usually is said to be of West African origin (compare Kikongo zumbi "fetish" and djumbi "ghost). A sense of "slow-witted person" is recorded from 1936.ETD zombie (n.).2

It also is attested from 1819 as a title for a chief, in an Afro-Brazilian context. This is said to be directly from the Angolan (Kimbundu) nzambi, "deity." The meaning "witch" is attested by 1910, that of "deity" is by 1921. Grand Zombi as the name of a deity in Voodoo practices is in English by 1904. Zombi was also used as a name for pets in 19c.ETD zombie (n.).3

zonal (adj.)

1839, from Late Latin zonalis, from Latin zona (see zone (n.)).ETD zonal (adj.).2

zone (v.)

1760, "mark with zones," from zone (n.). Land use planning sense is from 1916. Related: Zoned; zoning.ETD zone (v.).2

zoning (n.)

"land-use planning," 1912, verbal noun from zone (v.).ETD zoning (n.).2

zoned (adj.)

1960s in drug-use sense, from ozone (n.), which is found high in the atmosphere; the related verb to zone is from 1980s.ETD zoned (adj.).2

zone (n.)

late 14c., from Latin zona "geographical belt, celestial zone," from Greek zōnē "a belt, the girdle worn by women at the hips," from zōnnynai "to gird," from PIE root *yos- "to gird" (source also of Avestan yasta- "girt," Lithuanian juosiu, juosti "to gird," Old Church Slavonic po-jasu "girdle"). The 10c. Anglo-Saxon treatise on astronomy translates Latin quinque zonas as fyf gyrdlas.ETD zone (n.).2

Originally one of the five great divisions of the earth's surface (torrid, temperate, frigid; separated by tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and Arctic and Antarctic circles); meaning "any discrete region" is first recorded 1822. Zone defense in team sports is recorded from 1927.ETD zone (n.).3

zonk (v.)

1950, "to hit hard;" 1968, "to put into a stupor;" slang term, of echoic origin.ETD zonk (v.).2

zoo (n.)

c. 1847, short for Zoological Gardens of the London Zoological Society, established 1828 in Regent's Park to house the society's collection of wild animals. The first three letters taken as one syllable. "From a mere vulgarism, this corruption has passed into wide colloquial use" [Century Dictionary]. The slang meaning "crowded and chaotic place" is recorded by 1935.ETD zoo (n.).2

zoo-

word-forming element meaning "animal, living being," from Greek zoion "an animal," literally "a living being," from PIE root *gwei- "to live" (source also of Greek bios "life").ETD zoo-.2

zoography (n.)

1590s, from zoo- "animal" + -graphy. Related: Zoographer; zoographic.ETD zoography (n.).2