Since the early twentieth century, a clever or remarkable person of any age has often been referred to as a whiz.
The word is a shortened form of wizard.
The phrase “whiz kid” derives from a 1930s takeoff of the popular radio show Quiz Kids.
A whiz in this application means anyone who has a remarkable skill.
If you’re wondering why going to the bathroom is called “taking a whiz,” it’s because whiz has a cousin with another meaning.
A whizz is a hissing sound made by an object speeding through the air.
