Origin of jazz

1905–10, Americanism; 1915–20 for def 5; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM jazz

jazz·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for jazzed

British Dictionary definitions for jazzed (1 of 2)

jazzed
/ (dʒæzd) /

adjective

US and Canadian slang excited or delighted

British Dictionary definitions for jazzed (2 of 2)

jazz
/ (dʒæz) /

noun

verb

(intr) to play or dance to jazz music
African-American slang, obsolete to have sexual intercourse with (a person)

Derived forms of jazz

jazzer, noun

Word Origin for jazz

C20: of unknown origin

Cultural definitions for jazzed

jazz

A form of American music that grew out of African-Americans' musical traditions at the beginning of the twentieth century. Jazz is generally considered a major contribution of the United States to the world of music. It quickly became a form of dance music, incorporating a “big beat” and solos by individual musicians. For many years, all jazz was improvised and taught orally, and even today jazz solos are often improvised. Over the years, the small groups of the original jazz players evolved into the “Big Bands” (led, for example, by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Glenn Miller), and finally into concert ensembles. Other famous jazz musicians include Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Ella Fitzgerald.