Why Were Police Sometimes Called 'The Fuzz'?

Question

Why Were Police Sometimes Called 'The Fuzz'?

14 Answers

Answer Question

Answer 1

This is a very good question and one I have wondered about myself.
All I know is that it was a popular slang from back in the 1960's, but have never figured out the connection between the police and fuzz.
It will be interesting to see if anyone out there knows the answer.
Think I will share it with a few other Blurters who might know.
Glad you asked.

Answer 2

I'm a child of the 60s, the term then was "pigs". My Dad was a biker in the late 40s and early 50s. He remembers the term "fuzz". He thinks it's some kind of reference to when the police were tapping phone lines back then. You could here a "fuzzy" sound in the background.

Answer 3

I believe that was because of their hats at the time. They were like fedoras, but were the same shape as the bobby hats that they wore.

Answer 4

I would say some sort of criminal slang.

Answer 5

James Kuykendall answered

How about A baby bear only has fuzz before he grows a coat ?

Answer 6

Cindy Thompson answered

It was a slam to the police to be called the fuzz. Perhaps it was their fuzzy beards. Or perhaps it was an honor to be called the Fuzz in London and then later used as a slam. Peace.

Answer 7

I think is is because their suits were made of FUZZY polyester. Or the FUZZY static over the radios ways. This answer provided by: FUZZ

Answer 8

They were making fun of the police by calling them 'fuzzy', or unmanly and weak- it started off as slang used by criminals and hoods-so it was used as kinda a slap in the face, and if you think about it, if you were a criminal, you would not be very fond of the police. Anyways the name fuzz Just caught on.

Answer 9

The origin of "fuzz" is uncertain. The expression arose in America in the late 1920s and early 1930s, probably in the criminal underworld. It never quite replaced cop.
American Tramp and Underworld Slang, published in 1931, suggests that "fuzz" was derived from "fuss," meaning that the cops were "fussy" over trifles.

Answer 10

Hmmm. Good question. I was just wondering about this the other day when a TV show made a reference to "the fuzz." I honestly have no idea. Best of luck in the pursuit of your answer! (Oh no. I just realized...PLEASE don't give me a thumbs down for this! Please!!! I've already lost over 2,000 points, enough is enough. I'm sorry if it's an incompetent answer, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. HAVE MERCY!!!)

Answer 11

It comes from England, back when the police wore a hat that was fuzzy, something a little like a fedora, but taller, and so, it was slang for the police, they were also called bobbies. Hope this helps.

Answer 12

From the British police whom wore the fuzzy red hats. [I'd asked this as a trivia question long ago...lol] HERE WAS MY QUESTION: q401367.html

[BRAIN OF AN ELEPHANT...CAN YOU BELIEVE I REMEMBERED THAT FROM ALMOST 1 YEAR AGO? LOL]

Answer 13

Fuzz means bother! When people get arrested, they get in a fuzz which means trouble.Police officers were called many different names over the years, such as Charlies, I think in the year 1800. They were also called Babylon.

Answer 14

It is thought that the term was a derogatory remark for person who was trying to grow a beard(a youngster/just out of the academy/like a newbie in the military) or have a beard like the older generation police officers did..and what better way to describe a inept cop than to call them fuzz/trying to grow some peach fuzz into a full blown beard.(in other words trying to be a real cop/police officer)..or the word fuzz came from the police fuzzing/blurring the lines of the law to fight crime during prohibition..just a couple possibilities