The Origin of Kibosh

Author

Gerald Leonard Cohen, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Stephen Goranson
Matthew Little

Abstract

"This is an etymological study of the origins of the word kibosh, which has long been one of the great mysteries of the English language. Unconvincing derivations have been suggested from Yiddish to Gaelic and Italian, and thus far consensus among lexicographers has leaned toward referencing the word as 'origin unknown'.

In this study, the authors present convincing and important new evidence in favour of the derivation of kibosh from the word for a fearsome Middle Eastern whip, known as the kurbash.

This monograph is one of the most significant etymological works directed at a single phrase. It is the gold standard on deep-drill, focused and exhaustive single-word lexicography and will be of interest to lexicographers and linguists in the relevant fields." -- Provided by publisher.

Recommended Citation

Cohen, G. L., Goranson, S., & Little, M. (2018). The Origin of Kibosh. Routledge Studies in Etymology New York, New York: Taylor & Francis.

Department(s)

Arts, Languages, and Philosophy

Comments

Other articles of interest on this topic include:

• Comments on Etymology, May 2019: Kibosh Update #4 (Compilation)
• 'For "Kibosh": More evidence a whip can be "put on".'
• Revisit to kibosh – rejecting the Irish ‘cap-of-death’ etymology
• Revisit to kibosh – OED3’s tentative consideration of a Yiddish origin for kibosh in ‘put the kibosh on’ should be definitively set aside
• More on kibosh: ca. 1830 "Penal Servitude!" broadside denounced the callousness (not merely ineffectiveness) of the reform activity of the early 1830’s

Keywords and Phrases

Kibosh (The English word)

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-113862895-3

Print OCLC #

975373923

Document Type

Book

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2018 Taylor & Francis, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2018