ka·zoo

(kə-zo͞o′)

n. pl. ka·zoos

A simple musical instrument consisting of a metal or plastic tube with a single hole covered by a thin membrane that produces a buzzing sound when the player hums or sings into the mouthpiece.

[Perhaps imitative of its sound.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

kazoo

(kəˈzuː)

n, pl -zoos

(Instruments) 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

[C20: probably imitative of the sound produced]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ka•zoo

(kəˈzu)

n., pl. -zoos.

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.

[1880–85]

kazoo

, bazooka - Dutch bazu, "trumpet," gives us the words kazoo and bazooka, the latter originally being a form of kazoo that was a long sounding-horn.

kazoo

[kəˈzuː] N → kazoo m, chiflato m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

kazoo

[kəˈzuː] n → kazoo m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

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References in periodicals archive

His back porch, Tennessee style is so simple, you half expect to see a washboard player and someone blowing on a kazoo. The songs from his excellent CD, Last Of My Kind, were superb.

True blues from country boy Paul

Mellaby (Michael Stoute), who was the top-priced Highflyer yearling in 1989 at 700,000gns, gets off the mark by beating Kazoo (Bill Watts/Dean McKeown) in the mile maiden at Ripon.

All Our Yesterdays

Scottish actor Alan Cumming (below), who recently won a Tony for his performance on Broadway in Cabaret, has signed to play the Great Kazoo in The Flintstones - Viva Rock Vegas.

Out takes

New York's Rudy specialises in a similar historical period but his resonator-guitar is accompanied by a homemade neck harness and silver kazoo. They're at the Little Theatre in Gateshead.

Mr Soul is set for Sage return

The 30-strong band, which includes a nine-strong kazoo section, plus bells, drums and maces, is among 45 taking part from all round the country.

Jazzing up the arena; Arts

His vocals are so heavily masked that often you can't tell whether it's a person or a kazoo -- on Golden Bars Blue he sounds like Chewbacca from Star Wars.

cd review

Her sister Jackie was lead tip in the drum corps and after one season on the kazoo I knew that's what I wanted to do.

A broom handle for a mace, a sweet tin for a drum and a kazoo - it's back to the juvenile jazz bands; Juvenile jazz bands In association with MACKS Solicitors

This year is no exception with acts including Popup, Black Affair, The Kazoo Funk Orchestra, The A.M's (which includes Xfm's ex-breakfast show DJ Dominik Diamond), The Law, Little Doses, Sixpeopleaway, Our Lunar Activities, The Xcerts, Y'All Is Fantasy Island and Frightened Rabbit.

Wickerman Festival has the hottest new acts; raz rocks Solus Tent plays host to the best up-and-coming Scottish bands

The 24-year-old takes to his stool at 7pm every Sunday with his acoustic guitar and kazoo to play a free three-hour acoustic set.

Acoustic medley marathon gig

Watts, who sent out Teleprompter to land the 1985 Arlington Million, Waterloo (1972, 1,000 Guineas) and Kazoo (1991 German 1,000 Guineas), said: "It's very sad news-the yard has a tremendous racing history."

No racing future likely for historic Hurgill Lodge yard

It accused the college of inventing phantom students to gain extra Government money and building a bizarre worldwide business empire which included importing champagne from Russia and running courses for kazoo marching bands.

Closure of college 'a drain on the purse'

com/honestthiefband Banjo & Kazoo are a local acoustic duo made up of Bob Douglass and Si Normandale.

Special gig for charity; MUSIC and comedy collide for charity this week, as Entertainment Editor GORDON BARR discovers