Cuzzes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A casual or informal term referring to close friends or relatives used in familiar conversation; an alternate form or phonetic variation of "cousins" often used in slang to indicate bonds or connections between individuals; a colloquial expression denoting kinship or camaraderie among people with shared background or association
2. Informally describing people related by family or considered as brothers or close companions; a slang variation of the word denoting familial or friendly ties; a term expressing informal association or friendship within a social group
3. A relaxed, colloquial word used to identify relatives or trusted peers; an informal synonym for cousins highlighting familiarity or closeness; a slang term signifying personal connections or community bonds among individuals

Etymology: "Cuzzes" is the plural of "cuz," itself a clipped form of "cousin." Clipping shortens a longer word to its first syllable or two, and "cousin" has been shortened this way in informal speech for a long time, so "cuz" carries the sense of a relative while also sounding casual and familiar. Its plural, "cuzzes," is used to refer to a group of such relatives or close friends treated as kin. The meaning has moved well beyond blood relations. Because "cuz" signals warmth and closeness, it is often used for friends, teammates or anyone who feels like family, and "cuzzes" extends that to a whole crowd. The word keeps the affection of a family term while describing a chosen circle rather than an inherited one.

Synonyms: cousins, relatives, kinsfolk, family members