zizz

English

Etymology

Imitative in both uses, the first being of snoring: compare zzz (“sound of snoring”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /zɪz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪz

Noun

zizz (plural zizzes)

1. (informal) A nap or sleep.
   • 1973, Kyril Bonfiglioli, Don't Point That Thing at Me, Penguin, published 2001, page 45:

     Then I had a little zizz until Martland telephoned.

2. A buzzing or whizzing sound.

Verb

zizz (third-person singular simple present zizzes, present participle zizzing, simple past and past participle zizzed)

1. (informal, intransitive) To take a nap.