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razzmatazz

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:25 pm
by eberntson
(noun) any exciting and complex play intended to confuse (dazzle) the opponent

synonyms : razmataz , razzle , razzmatazz


Interesting word has a couple variations, and is associated with razzle-dazzle and razzle. Has some Hindi associations.

Re: razzmatazz

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:05 am
by Philip Hudson
The word daze (n and v) is the source of razzmatazz and all its sparkling, dazzling sisters. Suffixes have been added. Reduplication has been employed and then variations have been invented. It helps that -tazz rhymes with jazz. Jazz has an entirely different source. These are neat sounds to play with and are not surprising. In a strange sense they all seem onomatopoeic with our minds transferring dazzling light to dazzling sound in the human’s prolific imagination. May their tribe increase and their uses multiply. Well - except for the razzmatazz produced by snake oil peddlers and their myriad TV progeny.

Daze has an uncertain origin but all the suggestions I have seen are definitely from the Germanic branch of PIE.

What, exactly, are the alleged Hindi associations?