whizz etymology

Etymology

The word "whizz" has two distinct etymologies:

1. Make a hissing or whistling sound (verb)

• Origin: Middle English "whisen," meaning "to hiss or make a whistling noise"
• Proto-Germanic root: *hwīsaną ("to hiss")
• Related to Dutch "wizen" and German "zischen" ("to fizz or hiss")

2. Move quickly or expertly (verb/noun)

• Origin: Unknown, but possibly related to the following:
  • Whizzing sound: The sound of something moving quickly through the air
  • Whiz: A spinning top that hums or makes a whizzing sound
  • Whizzer: A propeller or similar device that generates a whirring or whizzing sound

Meaning and Origin

1. Make a hissing or whistling sound

The verb "whizz" means to make a high-pitched, hissing or whistling sound. This sound can be produced by the movement of air through a small opening, such as the sound of a kettle whistling or the sound of a bee buzzing.

2. Move quickly or expertly

The verb "whizz" can also mean to move quickly or expertly. This sense of the word is often used informally to describe someone who is very skilled or proficient in a particular activity. For example, someone who is very good at playing the piano might be described as a "piano whizz."

The noun "whizz" can also be used to refer to someone who is very skilled or knowledgeable in a particular subject. For example, a "computer whizz" is someone who is very good at using computers.

whizz relate terms

• whiz

  Etymology Old English hwison Proto Germanic hwīsa Proto Indo European gʰwíso

• whizz

  Etymology The word whizz has two distinct etymologies 1 Make a hissing or whistling

• wizard

  Etymology The word wizard is derived from the Old French word visart meaning wise or

• whizbang

  Etymology The word whizbang is a slang term of uncertain origin It first appeared in

• whizz

  Etymology The word whizz has two distinct etymologies 1 Make a hissing or whistling

• bang

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• adept

  Etymology The word adept is derived from the Latin word adeptus which means one who

• champion

  Etymology The word champion comes from the Old French word champion which in turn d

• wizard

  Etymology The word wizard is derived from the Old French word visart meaning wise or

• star

  Etymology The word star derives from the Old English word steorra which in turn orig

• speed

  Etymology Speed comes from the Old English word spēd which means success prosper

• expert

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanin

• sensation

  Etymology The word sensation comes from the Latin word sensus which means sense I

• sound

  Etymology From Middle English sound from Old English sund from Proto Germanic sunðaz