Across the Universe question

I still havent figured out what the word "CHUTZ" means.

It's pretty clear to me that it's derived from chutzpah, and in the book is mostly used to mean the same thing. My dictionary defines chutzpah as "shameless audacity or impudence." I'd define it as "unmitigated gall" or "nerve" (as in, "the nerve of that guy!").

Consider these examples from the book:
"But to disobey a direct order from Eldest? Even I don't have the chutz for that."
"Still, you have to respect the man; it takes chutz to lie to Eldest."

Sometimes it's used to describe someone displaying that behavior:
"Don't be such a chutz," he says. "Just because you're going to be Eldest some day doesn't mean you can order me around."

Shit

I think it is like Jackass or A*hole. That's what I think a Chutz is! Kathleen Pandemonium is AMAZING!

Frexing reminded me of "freaking" and "chutz"... maybe sh*t or cr*p. No shite would have been sh*t... So maybe cr*p just really changed up?

I think its just a cuss word - as in it can almost mean anything you want it too depending on the context. For example if you said chutz when you did something it may mean shit. If you called someone a chutz in may mean a**hole or something. Like I said, it depends on the context. :)

It's for sure from the Yiddish / Hebrew word "chutzpah". Your definition is exactly right and it makes sense within the context of the dialog.

She's trying to build a world that never existed, so she had to come up with some new terms. I think this book was brilliant. I read it within two days. I need to read the next one, but I'm reading Lauren Oliver's Pandemonium at present, and trying to write the second book in my series. Too busy:(

I think that chutz might be an evolution of "shit" just like frex is clearly an evolution of "fuck" although chutz is harder to figure out, and I'm just guessing at what it came from.