Interesting.

[changeling]

zhoosh meaning: to style (hair)
-Polari (gay slang that has a long history in the theatre & gypsy camps; some may be familiar with some of the words from "Around the Horne", some words also used by Terry Pratchett in his Discworld series). Source: Peter Burton, Parallel Lives, GMP 1985, ISBN-0-907040-65-9

So the word has some history prior to being popularised by Queer Eye. Which I still have not seen.


I'm avoiding writing my novel. Can you tell? I'm aiming for 12 thousand before I go to bed, but that's not necessarily going to happen...

Comments

[darketherdream.livejournal.com]

At this point, let me say how incredibly impressed I am that you are anywhere near 12 thousand. I think it's brilliant.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

*bearhugs* Thanks! (I need a bit of encouragement from time to time.) And I've just passed 12 thou, so go me. ;)

So. Only about another 38 thou to go...

[darketherdream.livejournal.com]

Yee!

Hm, that's quite a bit to go, but you'll get there! Cos you know we'd beat you with sticks if you went slack and didn't. We're watching you, so keep in line, dearest. :)

I will celebrate your reaching 12 thousand by doing a dance!

*dances*

(12,044 words. 404 words written tonight.)

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Well, 'zactly.

Yay, dance! *dances along with you*

[tycho.livejournal.com]

Yeah, except the Queer Eye guys spell it as "Tzusj". Which in all honesty, sounded a lil' wierd for that particular spelling. But, they're from New York so what can I say.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

1. Pfft, they're Americans and don't know any better.
2. Polari (also Palare) is a primarily spoken language. Spelling is kinda optional.

Bet you half a dollar that it has come from Polari, even if the Queer Eye blokes aren't consciously aware of it.

[tycho.livejournal.com]

No bet. ^_^

[sidherian.livejournal.com]

When I first moved to Sydney in the mid 80's I worked with a milliner who was a former dancer from the Sydney Dance Company. He used to "zhoosh" up all sorts of things. Which for him meant to spice up, or decorate or generally glam up.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Hee! What a legend. *has total love for anyone who uses even the slightest Polari*
It's interesting the way words, particularly slang words, stray from their original meaning.

[sidherian.livejournal.com]

He was a legend, when he wasn't holding me out windows from 3 storey's up (I was much younger and skinnier then and he was a big boofy bloke). Of course I have now had to look up polari to understand what it was. I wonder where he picked it up?