kazoo

American  

[kuh-zoo] / kəˈzu /

noun

• kazoos
  plural

1. Also called mirliton. a musical toy consisting of a tube that is open at both ends and has a hole in the side covered with parchment or membrane, which produces a buzzing sound when the performer hums into one end.

2. Slang.

   1. the buttocks.

   2. the anus.

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idioms

1. pain in the kazoo, pain.

   Organizing the family reunion was a big pain in the kazoo.

2. up / out the kazoo, wazoo.

   We pay taxes up the kazoo, but the streets are still full of potholes and trash collection comes late.

kazoo British  

/ kəˈzuː /

noun

1. a cigar-shaped musical instrument of metal or plastic with a membranous diaphragm of thin paper that vibrates with a nasal sound when the player hums into it

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• kazoos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of kazoo

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; 1965–70 kazoo for def. 2; origin uncertain; alleged to be imitative; see wazoo ( def. )

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Explanation

A kazoo is a musical instrument that you play by humming into it. The sound a kazoo makes is a silly, buzzing one. You wouldn't want to spend a relaxing evening listening to kazoo tunes. Kazoos are small, simple toys made of metal or plastic. All you have to do to play a kazoo is hum a tune. A membrane inside the kazoo vibrates, turning your humming voice into a musical sound. Kazoos were invented in the 1880s, and in the US they were given the imitative name kazoo, from the earlier slang bazoo, or "trumpet." In the UK, kazoos were originally called "Timmy Talkers."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kazoo kazoos

“The analogy is like an instrument — a little, small kazoo, you can’t make it very loud,” Scharer said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2025

Ms Millington's challenges have so far also included barefoot running, blacksmithing, beekeeping and busking on the streets of York in a turkey outfit playing Christmas songs on a kazoo.

From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2025

While lit with the penumbra of a spotlight aimed elsewhere, he coolly mimed the smoking of a cigarette with a kazoo.

From New York Times ● Jun. 16, 2023

She was playing the kazoo and poking around.

From Salon ● May 21, 2023

Oh, where abides the fond kazoo, The barrel-organ fair, And where is heard the tra-la-loo Of fish horns on the air?

From Hoosier Lyrics by Eugene Field

Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin brings out the score’s color and propulsion, and the excellent Met Opera chorus creates the seething world of the dead, occasionally playing kazoos.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

I take great pride in knowing that no one would think I’m the creation of A.I., even if that means acknowledging that I’m an acquired taste at best, “Hava Nagila” played on kazoos at worst.

From Slate ● Jan. 7, 2026

Students in other classrooms in this hallway learned about the amplification of sound — using kazoos, much to the dismay of neighboring teachers — while others created bubble wands or wind-powered cars.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 13, 2022

Witnessing the past four years of Wall’s career has been like trying to slow dance to a syncopated mess of kazoos and congas.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 6, 2021

But the ragged little "poh white" used to sit beside her piano by the hour and try to get in an alto with one of those kazoos that boys hum through.

From Flappers and Philosophers by F. Scott (Francis Scott) Fitzgerald

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