Pronunciation: [pˈiːt͡ʃ fˈʌz] (IPA) 
The term "peach fuzz" refers to the light, soft hair growth on a young person's face. It is made up of the sounds /piːtʃ/ and /fʌz/. The /iː/ sound is long and pronounced like "ee" in the word "peek." The /tʃ/ sound is similar to "ch" in "cheese." The /f/ sound is pronounced as "f" in "fleece" and /ʌ/ is pronounced like "uh" in "hut." Together, they create the unique spelling of "peach fuzz."
Peach fuzz refers to the soft, light, and short hairs that typically grow on the face, specifically the cheeks, upper lip, and chin, during adolescence or early stages of hair growth. The phrase "peach fuzz" is derived from the texture and appearance of the downy skin on a peach fruit. This type of hair is usually colorless or lightly pigmented, thus rendering it less visible than the coarser and darker hair that grows during adulthood. Peach fuzz is often associated with pubescent individuals who have not yet experienced a significant increase in the production of hormones like testosterone or androgens, which play a crucial role in the development of thicker and darker hair on the body.
The term "peach fuzz" can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is soft, delicate, or barely developed. This colloquial usage is commonly employed to describe inchoate or emerging stages of growth or progress in various contexts, such as an incipient talent, skill, or idea. Its informal connotation lends a descriptive and relatable quality to the term, making it easily understood and relatable in everyday language.
The term "peach fuzz" originated in American English in the early 1900s. It is a colloquialism used to describe soft, downy hair or facial hair that is fine and light in color and texture, similar to the fuzz found on the surface of a ripe peach.
The word "peach" itself comes from the Old English word "pēce", which was borrowed from the Latin word "persica", meaning "peach tree", ultimately derived from the Greek "persikē", referring to the fruit-bearing tree.
"Fuzz" is another colloquial term used to describe fine, fluffy, or downy hair. It originated in the early 19th century, possibly as an imitation of the sound created when rubbing such hair or from the notion of something soft or indistinct.
