SPAZ

Etymology

Noun

spaz (plural spazzes)

(slang, pejorative, offensive) A stupid or incompetent person.

(slang, pejorative, offensive) A hyperactive person.

(slang, pejorative, offensive) A tantrum, a fit.

Usage notes

The offensiveness of this term and of spastic differs somewhat between the US and the UK. In the UK, they are very offensive. The term is more commonly used in the U.S. but is still offensive to many in the disability community. See spastic for more.

Verb

spaz (third-person singular simple present spazzes, present participle spazzing, simple past and past participle spazzed)

(slang, pejorative, offensive) To have a tantrum or fit.

(slang) To malfunction, go on the fritz.

Usage notes

The sense “to malfunction” is the only sense that is not insulting to the object, and is cognate to spasm (compare seize up), but still may cause offense due to connections with spastic.