kibosh

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkaɪˌbɒʃ/, /kɪˈbɑʃ/ (UK); /ˈkaɪˌbɑʃ/, /kaɪˈbɑʃ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

The origin is unknown.^[2][3][4][5] Etymonline notes that it looks Yiddish, but its first appearance, in Dickens's sketch of the largely Irish Seven Dials district of London, argues against this.^[4] Suggestions include Irish caip bháis “cap of death”, and a link with bosh “nonsense”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the phrase to put the kibosh on, to dispose of finally or finish off (1836, as kye-bosk).^[6][3][4][5]

Semantic evolution

The phrase has kept its meaning of putting a stop to something.^[6][7][1] In 19th-century slang kibosh could also mean nonsense (1873)^[6][7] and “the proper style, the thing” (1889).^[6][1] The verb, to put an end to, is from 1884.^[6][1]

Timeline

• 1836 – put the kye-bosk on, in Dickens.^[4][3][6]
• 1873 – nonsense.^[6]
• 1884 – verb, to finish off.^[6]
• 1889 – the proper style.^[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. Something that checks or puts an end to something, chiefly in put the kibosh on.
2. (dated) Nonsense.

Verb

1. To put a stop to.

Related words

• bosh

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House