futz

Etymology

Verb is from German herumfurzen (“to fart around”) (herum- +‎ furzen), perhaps via Yiddish arumfartzen; alternatively, futz is simply a euphemism for fuck. Noun is probably from German Fotze (“cunt”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fʌts/

Noun

futz (plural futzes)

1. (vulgar, colloquial, dialectal, derogatory) An objectionable woman

   Janet gets on my nerves. She's a dumb futz, ain't she?

Verb

futz (third-person singular simple present futzes, present participle futzing, simple past and past participle futzed)

1. To be frivolous and waste time [from the 20th c.]
   • 1969, Philip Roth, Portnoy's Complaint

     I am nobody to futz around with when I know myself to be four hundred per cent in the right.

2. To experiment by trial and error

Usage notes

• Used especially in the phrase futz around.