fuzz
UK[fʌz]US[fʌz]
n
A covering of short, soft, light hairs or fibers
n
A blurred or indistinct image, sound, or signal
n
(Informal) The police or other law enforcement authorities
Etymology
The word 'fuzz' is believed to be an onomatopoeic formation from the late 17th century, imitating the sound or the light, fuzzy quality it describes. It first appeared in English meaning 'to make fuzzy,' with the noun form for a fluffy substance following soon after. The semantic expansion to mean 'blurriness' logically extends from the visual quality of a fuzzy surface. The informal slang meaning for 'police,' originating in American English around the 1920s, is thought to derive from the 'fuzzy' or soft-looking uniforms worn by some officers at the time, creating a metaphorical link back to the core concept of a soft, indistinct covering.
Analysis
The word is a simplex, likely of onomatopoeic origin, imitating the sound or feeling of something light and soft.
Examples
The peach skin was covered in a soft fuzz.
The old television screen was full of static and fuzz.
He was nervous when the fuzz pulled his car over.