-zilla
-zilla is an English slang suffix, a libfix back-formation derived from the English name of the Japanese movie monster Godzilla.[1][2] It is popular for the names of software and websites. It is also found often in popular culture to imply some form of excess, denoting the monster-like qualities of Godzilla.
This trend has been observed since the popularization of the Mozilla Project, which itself included the Internet Relay Chat client ChatZilla.[3]
The use of the suffix was contested by Toho, owners of the trademark Godzilla, in a lawsuit against the website Davezilla[4] and also against Sears for their mark Bagzilla.[5] Toho has since trademarked the word "Zilla" and retroactively used it as an official name for the "Godzilla In Name Only" creature from the 1998 Roland Emmerich film.[6]
List of items ending in -zilla
Some uses of the suffix -zilla include:
Businesses and products
- AmiZilla, an Amiga port of Mozilla Firefox
- Chipzilla, a humorous epithet for the Intel Corporation
- Clonezilla, an open source disk cloning software
- FileZilla, an FTP program
- Go!Zilla, a download manager program
- Hubzilla, an open source social network, part of Fediverse
- Mozilla, a group of Internet-related programs created by the Mozilla Foundation, also name of the group's widely known web browser
- Bugzilla, open source bug tracking software, with a web-based interface.
- ChatZilla, an Internet Relay Chat program
- Mozilla Application Suite
- Classilla, a rebranded Mozilla Application Suite, an internet suite for the classic Mac OS
- Ghostzilla, a web browser
- GNUzilla, GNU's fork of the Mozilla Application Suite
- Warpzilla, the Mozilla Application suite for OS/2
- Newszilla, the Usenet server of the Dutch internet provider XS4ALL
- Podzilla, an open source user interface for the IPodLinux project, which allows for alternative functionality of Apple Computer's iPod
- Quizilla, an online personality quiz website, which contains its own "Zillapedia"
- RevZilla.com, an online motorcycle gear retailer
- Shopzilla, a comparison-shopping search engine, formerly BizRate.com
- Godzilla (Nissan GT-R), a grand touring/ sports vehicle produced by Nissan
Entertainment
- Bongzilla, a rock band from Madison, Wisconsin
- "Bootzilla", a song recorded by Bootsy's Rubber Band
- Bridezilla (band), an Australian indie rock band
- Bridezilla (EP), a recording by the band Bridezilla
- Bridezillas, a reality show which airs on the WE: Women's Entertainment network
- Broadzilla, a rock band from Detroit, Michigan
- Davezilla, a humor website
- Godzilla, the franchise from which the -zilla suffix originates
- Godzilla (1954 film), the first film in the franchise
- Zilla, a fictional character originally known as Godzilla, from the 1998 American Godzilla film
- Illzilla, an Australian hip hop group featuring live instruments
- Popzilla, an animated TV series in production for MTV
- Rapzilla, a Christian hip hop online magazine
- Tekzilla, a weekly video podcast on the Revision3 network
- "Throatzillaaa", a song recorded by Slayyyter
Miscellaneous
- axizilla, a heavy form of axion in an extension of the Standard Model.
- bitchzilla, a severely disagreeable or aggressive woman.
- couplezilla, a couple who, in the course of planning their wedding, display difficult, selfish, narcissistic behavior relating to the event.
- cuntzilla, a term of abuse for a severely disagreeable or aggressive woman.
- Fedzilla, the federal government regarded as a rapacious monster with an appetite for political power, money, etc.
- groomzilla, a demanding and perfectionist groom (man who is to be married).
- Hogzilla, a large male wild hog hybrid that was stabbed and killed in 2004 in Georgia, United States.
- momzilla, a controlling or over-involved mother.
- Pigzilla, another large feral pig or possible hoax shot in 2007 in Alabama, United States.
- Squawkzilla, a nickname for a prehistoric parrot species.
- promzilla, a teenage girl who is obsessed with preparing for her prom and ensuring it turns out the way she envisions.
- Snowzilla (disambiguation)
- weddingzilla, a person overly concerned with ensuring that a wedding goes exactly as they envision it.
- wimpzilla, a theoretical superheavy dark matter particle, trillions of times more massive than other proposed types of dark matter.
For derived words
- Words ending with -zilla (List of examples in English Wiktionary)
- -zilla (explaining the suffix in English Wiktionary)
References
- ^ Chrysti M. Smith (2006). Verbivore's Feast: Second Course: More Word & Phrase Origins. Farcountry Press. ISBN 9781560374022.
- ^ William Tsutsui. "Godzilla and Postwar Japan Lunch Keynote". Address 2004 National Meeting Asian Studies.
- ^ "IRC in Mozilla, aka ChatZilla". mozilla.org. Mozilla Organization. May 18, 2000. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
- ^ "Godzilla vs. the blog thing". CNET.com.
- ^ Philip Summa. "New Test for Trademark Dilution - Why North Carolina Should Adopt Section 12 of the Model State Trademark". Campbell L. Rev. 5.
- ^ "ZILLA - Trademark Details". Justia Trademarks. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
