1. Originally: (a nickname for) a member of the Hadendoa people fighting on the Mahdist side against Egyptian and British forces in the conflict in Sudan in 1881–99. Later also more generally: a member of the Hadendoa or another Beja people of Sudan, Egypt, and Eritrea. Cf. fuzzy n. 3. Now chiefly historical, and likely to be considered offensive.In quot. 1894 without article, as though a proper name: used to refer to the Hadendoa or other Mahdist soldiers collectively.The men of the Hadendoa and other Beja peoples traditionally wore their hair with a full, bushy crown and ringlets at the back and sides. The Hadendoa were regarded by the British as fearsome opponents.In later use frequently with reference either to Kipling's poem (see quot. 1890), or to the British sitcom Dad's Army (1968–77), which, though set during the Second World War, featured a character who was a veteran of the Mahdist war in Sudan (see quot. ?1968).

2. derogatory and offensive. Chiefly in colonial and imperial contexts: a member of a non-white indigenous people, esp. a black African person (often in contexts in which it is implied that indigenous people are less civilized than European colonists) (now historical). Also more generally: any black or dark-skinned person.

3. Australian. (A nickname for) an indigenous person from Papua New Guinea acting as a carrier, stretcher-bearer, scout, etc., for Australian forces in New Guinea during the Second World War (1939–45). Cf. Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel n. Now chiefly historical.Occasional earlier uses of this term to denote indigenous Papua New Guinean people in Australian contexts seem more likely to be contextual uses of sense A. 2.In quot. 1942 in the text of a poem by an Australian serviceman which helped to establish the heroic reputation of Papua New Guinean stretcher-bearers (see note at Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel n.).Despite the offensive and derogatory connotations of fuzzy wuzzy in general use (cf. sense A. 2), the term fuzzy wuzzy used in this specific historical context is not typically regarded as offensive in Australian usage.

2. Of or belonging to one of the dark-skinned peoples or groups referred to in senses at A.; designating a person belonging to such a group. Now chiefly historical and offensive (although cf. note at sense A. 3).

Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel n. Australian (now chiefly historical) (a nickname for) an indigenous person from Papua New Guinea acting as a carrier, stretcher-bearer, scout, etc., for Australian forces in New Guinea during the Second World War (1939–45); chiefly in plural; cf. sense A. 3.The phrase is first recorded in association with a poem by Australian serviceman Bert Beros (see quot. 1942); although the exact phrase does not appear in the text (but cf. quot. 1942 at sense B. 1a), the poem was widely reprinted under the title Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, helping to establish the heroic reputation of the Papua New Guinean stretcher-bearers and making them the object of widespread admiration in Australia.Despite the offensive and derogatory connotations of fuzzy wuzzy in general use (cf. sense A. 2), the term fuzzy wuzzy angel in this context is not typically regarded as offensive in Australian usage.