Cuzzie

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A colloquial term used to refer affectionately to a close friend or relative, often implying a sense of familial connection or camaraderie; sometimes used informally in conversation as a friendly address; chiefly dialectal or regional in usage
2. An informal expression denoting a person regarded with familiarity and warmth, commonly signifying a cousin or close companion; employed in casual speech contexts; typically found in certain English-speaking communities
3. A slang word for a cousin or someone considered like family, conveying friendliness and closeness; used commonly in informal dialogue; associated with regional or cultural vernaculars

Etymology: Cuzzie is an Australian and New Zealand slang term that began as a clipped form of "cousin," formed with the diminutive suffix "-ie" (or "-y") that Australians attach to so many everyday words, like "arvo" for afternoon or "brekkie" for breakfast. The shortened form "cuzzy" or "cuzz" appears in informal speech, and the same "-ie" pattern turns "cousin" into a word for a friend or mate as much as a relative. The usage has spread beyond blood relations. In Australian and New Zealand English, a "cuzzie" is often simply someone you feel close to, whether or not you share any family tie. Its warmth comes from that looseness: the word borrows the intimacy of kinship and applies it to friendship.

Synonyms: cousin, mate, buddy, pal, friend

Antonyms: enemy, stranger