putzen

Meaning

1. (intransitive,transitive,weak) to clean, especially by rubbing with something wet, to brush (one's teeth)
2. (reflexive,weak) to groom oneself
3. (dated,reflexive,weak) to beautify oneself by washing, styling, and putting on fancy clothes

Concepts

clean

brush

preen

polish

furbish

trowel

buff

wipe

hoover

vacuum

shine

improve

refine

clear

erase

sweep

scrub

rub

wax

wash

brush down

purge

purify

blow

brush up

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈpʰʊtsən]

Etymology

15th century, also in the form butzen. Origin unknown. Perhaps derived from Middle High German butze (“lump, piece, stump”), from Proto-Germanic *buttaz (whence also English butt), but there are several other theories.
Perhaps related to Latin puto in the sense of "clean".