[Ads-l] "kazoo" in an 1882 novel--etymology hints?

Peter Reitan pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM
Wed Jan 28 23:28:48 UTC 2026


This novel was mentioned here once before.
https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2017-May/147646.html

I was not able to find a publication date to definitively place it before or after Frost's parent application in August. No references to the book in newspapers or ither publications that I could find.

Interesting that it was the same year.  In either case, I suspect it was influenced by bazoo, which was widely used.

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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Stephen Goranson <00001dd3d6fc15d3-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 12:16:54 PM
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Subject: "kazoo" in an 1882 novel--etymology hints?

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Subject:      "kazoo" in an 1882 novel--etymology hints?
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Given what Fred Shapiro noted [A] maybe consider [B]

[B]
Naughty New York, or, The apron strings relaxed :
a novel of the period ; being a truthful narrative of a weeks jollification=
 of three young benedicts ... /
Nathan D[ane] Urner [aka O. N. Looker]
1882
English [Book]  Book 192 pages ; 17 cm
New York : American News Co.,

Many uses of kazoo, "reeling pipe," extended noisy pre-wedding jamboree, et=
c.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=3Dosu.32435017812041&seq=3D3&q1=3Dka=
zoo

Stephen G

I'd give more on this, but am working on Philo's mentions of proto-Sadducee=
s and proto-Pharisees



[A]

kazoo (OED 1884)

1882 Boston Weekly Globe 12 Dec. 5/7 (Newspapers.com)

KAZOO  The Great Egyptian MUSICAL WONDER  Found among the ruins of the Pyra=
mids.  Any tune played upon it, without practice, by man, woman, or child. =
 Imitates all birds, beasts, animals, or human beings. ... Kazoo Manufactur=
ing Co., Boston, Mass.


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