Jazz [adjective] (1919)

[Douglas G. Wilson]

"Jazz" as an adjective meaning "mottled" appears in MW3.

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"The Simcoe Reformer" [Simcoe, Ontario], 20 Nov. 1919, p. 9, col. 1:
"Brother to Icarus" by Lieut. Warren H. Miller, U.S.N. (attrib. "The Red
Book"): col. 2:

[on a USN destroyer]

<<The Commander wrestled his way forward past trim pairs of torpedo-tubes
on their swivel mounts, past the ventilator-cowls of the fire-room, and the
four slim smokestacks, all camouflaged in jazz paint.>>

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I suppose this adjective "jazz" is likely derived from the musical noun ...
carrying the sense "unsystematic" or "disorderly" ... appropriate for
camouflage.

-- Doug Wilson