kazoo
UK[kəˈzuː]US[kəˈzuː]
n
A simple musical instrument consisting of a small tube with a hole in it, which you play by humming into it, causing a thin membrane to vibrate and produce a buzzing sound.
Etymology
The origin of the word 'kazoo' is obscure but is generally considered to be of imitative origin, likely coined in the late 19th century to mimic the instrument's distinctive buzzing sound. It may be a variant or alteration of an earlier slang term. The instrument itself, a simple membranophone, was first patented in the 1880s in the United States. The name 'kazoo' thus represents a classic example of onomatopoeia, where the word's form directly echoes the sound it describes, with no further etymological decomposition possible from its current spelling.
Analysis
The word 'kazoo' is a simplex word of uncertain, likely imitative origin. It does not contain separable morphemes in the modern English spelling.
Examples
The child entertained the family by playing a lively tune on his plastic kazoo.
The party favors included hats, streamers, and a cheap kazoo for each guest.
You don't need musical training to play the kazoo; you just hum into it.