putz

Pronunciations

Putz

(PUTZ)

Definitions

• n. "A fool, an ass, a jerk." (Rosten)
  

• v. Waste time.
  

Example Sentences

• "I can't believe you lost the game, you putz!"
  

• "I putzed around the house last night, not accomplishing much."
  

Languages of Origin

• Yiddish

Etymology

• פּאָץ pots '(vulgar) penis; fool'
  

Who Uses This

• Jews: Jews of diverse religious backgrounds and organizational involvements
• Non-Jews: (words that have spread outside of Jewish networks)

Regions

• North America

Dictionaries

• The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).
• The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).

Alternative Spellings

pots, puts, potz