Etymologically
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kibosh

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 00:39. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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.
  • 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