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

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. )

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

Behind the scenes, Moreno formulated her own Spanish-language takes on jazz, which listeners can hear in the 2006 funky, spy-like chromatic track “Escondidos” — which includes a kazoo solo in its outro.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026

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

Her favorite is this 1950s-era helmet in the Destination Moon gallery with a kazoo mouthpiece.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 12, 2022

Button-Bright, Trot, and Betsy Bobbin had put together a kazoo band and played "Ease on Down the Road" as they marched along behind the dragons.

From Abducted to Oz by Bob Evans

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

Live entertainment district, even as picketing hotel workers lined the sides of the street playing drums and kazoos.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2023

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