Izzy

English

Etymology

From the /ɪz-/ root of the names + -y. The common noun derives from Isaac and Israel, male given names of Hebrew origin, popular among Jewish people, the latter also being the name of the self-defined Jewish state.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪzi/, enPR: ĭz'ē

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪzi

Proper noun

Izzy (plural Izzies)

1. A diminutive of the female given name Isabel, Isobel, Isabelle, Isabella, Elizabeth, Isidora, Isra, Izebel, Ismara and Isobelle.
   • 1886, Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge:

     "I approve of anything you desire to do, Izzy," said Henchard huskily.

2. A diminutive of the male given name Israel, Isaac, Isambard, Isidore, Ismail, Chreistus, Chreistos, Isaiah, Isiah, Izzet, Isarn, Ismail and Isam.
   • 2012 [2011], R. M. Meluch, The Ninth Circle: A Novel of the U.S.S. Merrimack (Tour of the Merrimack; 5), New York, NY: DAW Books, →ISBN, page 367:

     “Geez, Cecil, you sound just like Izzy Benet,” Patrick said. “We don’t need two Izzies. Nobody needs two Izzies.”

Alternative forms

• Isy, Issy (feminine diminutive)
• Izzie (feminine and masculine diminutive)

Noun

Izzy (plural Izzies)

1. (informal, sometimes derogatory) A Jew or an Israeli Jew.
   • 1948, Norman Mailer, The Naked and the Dead, New York, NY: Rinehart & Company, page 137:

     “Yeah,”’ Croft said. A spasm of rage worked through him, and he turned on Goldstein and said, ‘‘Listen, Izzy.” / ‘“My name isn’t Izzy,” Goldstein said angrily.

   • 2012 November 24, BlastFromThePast, “Re: Hey anti-Semites, the Jews have an army now. Get used to it.”, in soc.culture.israel‎^[1] (Usenet):

     The Izzies are scared shitless of Iran. That's why they're making such a stink about Iran's perfectly legal nuclear programme - and why they want the JewSA to fight all their wars for them!

References

• “Izzy n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present