bzzzt.

n.  a buzzing malfunction of someone’s robot double standing in line until the next Star Wars film opens, as in the comic strip “PvP” by Scott R. Kurtz; see also bzzrrtt, fttrrzzt, kzrrrtt.


n.  an electrical shock.

<Bzzzt!  His entire body convulsed in a bone-wrenching spasm.  —Thomas Harlan, House of Reeds.>

n.  the “short, high, very buzzy” call of the Green-Tailed Trainbearer bird, as described in A Guide to the Birds of Columbia by Steven L. Hilty.


n.  the buzzing of an office speakerphone or intercom; see also bzzt bzzzzt bzzzzzt, bzzt bzzt, bzzzt.

<Bzzzt!  The buzzer derailed my train of thought.  “Yes, sir?” said Mrs. Crow to her intercom.  —Bruce Hale, Trouble Is My Beeswax: A Chet Gecko Mystery.>

n.  the jolting feedback of an electronic musical instrument.

<Again, this peak is followed by Jerry trying to start the “China Doll” with the MIDI guitar, which proceeds to blow up with an enormous “BZZZT,” which jolts the audience and is heard clearly on the soundboard tape.  —Michael M. Getz, The Deadhead’s Taping Compendium, Volume III.>

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