wazoo, n. slang (orig. and chiefly U.S.).
Brit. /wəˈzuː/, U.S. /ˌwæˈzu/
[Origin unknown. Compare kazoo n. Additions (which occurs in similar senses), and perhaps also bazoo n., razoo n.2
A link, via Louisiana Creole, with French oiseau bird (see enoisel v.) has been suggested (see Comments on Etymol.(1989) Jan. 14–16).]
1. The buttocks; the anus.
Freq. as a (euphemistic) substitute for ass in fig. phrases, as pain in the wazoo, etc.
| 1961 Calif. Pelican (Univ. Calif., Berkeley) May (back cover) Run it up yer ol' wazoo! 1971 Wall St. Jrnl. 20 Apr. 1 Golf itself is quite safe, the greatest risk being the possibility of a long drive plunking some poor fellow in the wazoo. 1975 San Francisco Chron. 14 Feb. 40 Dating is a real pain in the wazoo. 1995 Esquire Oct. 60/2 When we step forward to seek acclaim, to be raised up above the crowd, we can expect spears up the wazoo. 2002 Sunday Herald (Glasgow) 13 Jan. (Review section) 16/5 Every band of half-wits that sails out of the NME's wazoo is immediately hailed as next in line for The Beatles' throne. |
2. up (also out) the wazoo: in great quantities, in abundance, to excess.
| 1981 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald-Jrnl. 5 Jan. d8/3 There comes a time in performing when you just do it. You can have theory up the wazoo. 1983 Amer. Bar. Assoc. Jrnl. (Nexis) June 69 834, I had done well—law review, Coif, American Jurisprudence book awards up the wazoo. 1991 T. Deitz Soulsmith 10, I know for a fact that he's well provided for and insured out the wazoo. 2003 L. Block Small Town 453 There'd be security up the wazoo, cops and Secret Service agents a mile deep. |