jazz English · revision 6046

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|formation=coinage|attested=1912}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dʒæz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is American English, of unknown origin.^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) It may come from the earlier slang [[jasm|t=energy, vitality, spirit]] (1860), itself perhaps from gism in the same sense (1842);^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) Barnhart also compares several African words meaning to dance or to be very lively, but stresses that the connection cannot be shown.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline, following Lewis Porter, notes that the sexual sense was added only from 1918, so it was not part of the word's origin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lively, energetic, by 1912 in California baseball writing:^(Etymonline) a pitcher called his new wobbling throw “the Jazz ball”.^(Cresswell 2021) Barnhart dates the word to 1913, as a kind of ragtime dance.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first known musical use is in Chicago in 1915;^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline) by 1922 jazz was applied to music of the kind played by Black musicians.^(Barnhart 1988) The sense of energy, excitement or pep is from 1913 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and of nonsense or empty talk from 1918.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''And all that jazz'', and so on, is recorded from 1939 in Etymonline and 1959 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb, to speed up or liven up, is from 1917, and to play in the style of jazz from 1919;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''to jazz up'' is now to make something more colourful or exciting.^(SOED 2002) Of design, jazz meant gaudy or loud from 1919.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1912 – lively, in baseball slang.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – a ragtime dance; energy, pep.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1915 – the music, in Chicago.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1917 – the verb, to liven up.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1918 – nonsense, empty talk.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1939 – and all that jazz.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A style of music of African-American origin, with strong, flexible [[rhythm]], [[syncopation]] and solo and group [[improvisation]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(slang)'' Pretentious or empty talk; similar things in general: ''and all that jazz''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Liveliness, energy.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To play in a jazz style.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(informal)'' To make livelier or more showy: ''jazz it up''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[jazzer]]

+ * [[jazzish]]

+ * [[jazzlike]]

+ * [[jazz-rock]]

+ * [[jazzy]]

+ * [[jazzercise]]

+ * [[jazzwoman]]

+ * [[cool jazz]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[jasm]]

+ * [[jism]]

+ * [[ragtime]]

+ * [[blues]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}