A small inflamed spot on the skin, usually caused by blocked pores and bacteria; a pimple.
Origin unknown, possibly Yiddish. First appeared in American English in the 1960s and became the casual, popular term for acne. The exact root remains disputed among etymologists.
Despite being a word teenagers use constantly, 'zit' has mysteriously unclear origins—unlike most English words, its past is obscured, making it a reminder that even modern slang can have secrets.
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