Musos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Musicians, particularly those who are passionate about their craft and involved in diverse genres
2. Individuals who are deeply engaged in music, often to the point of forming close-knit communities
3. Enthusiasts of music who may play instruments or appreciate various styles and performances

Etymology: "Musos" is the plural of "muso," which was formed by taking "musician" and adding the diminutive suffix "-o." The "-o" ending is the same one found in words like "arvo" (afternoon) and "brekkie" (breakfast), a clipping habit common in Australian and British slang. The result is a casual, affectionate nickname for someone whose life revolves around music. The base word "musician" itself traces back through Latin "musicus," from Greek "mousikos," meaning "of the Muses," the nine goddesses of the arts in Greek myth. So a "muso" is, etymologically, a person devoted to the Muses, though the slang shortening has largely cut that classical flavour away.

Synonyms: musicians, artists, performers