Words at Play : English Words from Yiddish
Definition:
: fool around
About the Word:
Futz is a word that has the sort of etymology that will make small children think that studying language is an enjoyable pursuit. It is thought to have come (no one is entirely certain) from a modification of the Yiddish phrase arumfartsn zikh, the literal translation of which is 'to fart around.'
Example:
"But, as he got closer, I noticed he looked pretty sober, like there was more on his mind than just futzing around shooting the bull and getting in everybody’s way." — Ken Kesey, Sometimes a Great Notion, 1964
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