razzmatazz English · revision 1280

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹæz.mə.tæz/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is perhaps an alteration of [[razzle-dazzle]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Barnhart suggests a varied reduplication of [[jazz]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) but Etymonline notes that George Ade used the word in 1899, too early for that derivation.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Noisy, showy display or publicity (1899).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was used in vaudeville by 1908 and of jazz music by 1917.^(Etymonline) By the 1930s it was disparaging jazz slang for old-fashioned or corny jazz, especially as against swing.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) It also came to mean double-talk or evasive language,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary) and lively energy or vim.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1899 – George Ade's use; showy display.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1908 – in vaudeville.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1917 – of jazz music.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930s – old-fashioned jazz.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Flashy action or display intended to impress or confuse; [[razzle-dazzle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Evasive or meaningless language; [[double-talk]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Lively energy; vim.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[razzle-dazzle]]

+ * [[jazz]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}