Gestalt - An Irish Etymology for Jizz

An Irish Perspective

While researching this subject I came across an interesting paper published by David McDonald in Canberra Bird Notes, 1996 called The Etymology of Jizz (HERE) where he referred to among various potential origins for this word, the work of Thomas A. Coward, Bird Haunts and Nature Memories, 1922.  T.A. Coward devotes a chapter in his book to Jizz (HERE).  

Opening page, chapter titled Jizz, from Bird Haunts and Nature Memories, 1922.  T.A. Coward.

There doesn't appear to be any earlier published reference to the word jizz, least of all in the context in which it is used by birders today so I think there can be little doubt that the originator for this word in birding should be considered to be T.A. Coward, 1922.  And yet this has not been the case (eg. HERE).  Why?

The More Commonly Held Belief

Perhaps the most widespread belief is that jizz is derived from G.I.S.S. (General Impression of Size and Shape), a World War II fighter pilot acronym concerning the recognition of aircraft based on their appearance.  And yet we have a very clear reference which predates this, above.  Why, if the word existed in the correct context before WWII is this the more commonly held etymology for the term?  I think it may come down to usage.  David McDonald referred to various ornithologists who are convinced the word arose directly from the WWII term G.I.S.S.  Could it just be a coincidence that the concept came into widespread being thanks to G.I.S.S. but in parallel was known to a few because of T.A. Coward's writing and that the spelling subsequently shifted from GISS to the more appropriate Jizz over time?  In other words, is it possible both G.I.S.S. (from WWII) and Jizz  (from Coward, 1922) have coexisted in general use unbeknownst to the birding public, simply because they sound the same and have the same approximate meaning?

The Origin for the term jizz in Ireland

The word jizz is not an Irish gaelic word but it is a word that is used even today in Ireland to imply a bit of spirit or cockiness.  It is unclear if the word was in use, with that meaning in the 1920's.  It has been suggested that T.A. Coward may have misheard a word which did actually exist and which has a similar meaning, namely jism.  Or that he misheard another word, gist.  Or perhaps the fisherman may have been using a word which is no longer in use, such as gizz or phizz, both meaning face or facial expression. 

There is one other possibility of course, which is that T.A. Coward may have heard an Irish gaelic word.  David McDonald was unable to glean any likely word from his research among Irish speakers.  Unfortunately I am not a fluent Irish speaker myself but there is one other intriguing possible origin (with thanks in particular to David Quin on the Irish Bird Network (IBNlistserve) for pointing it out).

Jizz, Jazz and Pep

The late (and controversial it seems) Daniel Cassidy suggested an Irish origin for the word Jazz (reference HERE).  Cassidy suggested that it was derived from an Irish word teas, (pronounced by many as chass).  It means heat.  For jazz to have come phonetically from teas it would have to have been spoken by someone with a strong accent.  For those of you not familiar with Ireland, there are a vast multitude of different local accents in Ireland, possibly more than most other countries on the planet.  I have very little doubt that not only could an Irish person pronounce teas as 'jazz' but another, practically living on the same street could pronounce it as 'jizz'.  The origin of jizz as T.A. Coward referenced it may all come down to the accent of one Irish fisherman.

There is one line in T.A. Coward's book that resonates with me.  

Why would the author turn from talking about nature to talking about the characteristic jizz of individual people unless perhaps it had been part of the Irish fisherman's use or explanation of the term.  There was a word coined around the same time as jizz and jazz and it is the word pep.  They essentially mean the same thing.  Someone with pep is spirited, a little cocky... a little pep in their step.  The word pep comes from the word pepper which of course implies heat or, in Irish, teas.  Is this just another strange coincidence in this intriguing etymology or do all these words hail from the same vernacular lineage?

Of course, jizz and jizm have been hijacked in the modern era by a very different meaning, which is why gestalt is possibly a more acceptable word for the present day birder, and it is the term I am going with in this blog.

UPDATE JULY 2016
Further work by David McDonald in 2016 seems to confirm an Irish Etymology for Jizz.  See HERE for details.