putz

Meanings

Noun

• Fool, idiot.
• Jerk.
• Penis.
• A decoration or ornament in the Nativity tradition, usually placed under a Christmas tree.

Verb

• Waste time.
• To go around viewing the putzes in the neighborhood.

Origin

• Borrowed from Yiddish פּאָץ ("penis, fool"). Compare similar semantic developments in futz.
• Borrowed from Pennsylvania German Putz; compare German Putz ("ornament, decoration, finery"), putzen. Compare the above.