Origin of Kibosh
Routledge Studies in Etymology
1st Edition
Published on 14. August 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
162 pages
978-0-367-59793-1 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
"Mr Cohen [...] worked with his co-authors to piece together how "kibosh" came into British usage in the 1830s. The resulting book 'Origins of Kibosh' in the Routledge Studies in Etymology series, settles on a convincing origin story."-- Ben Zimmer, Wall Street Journal, 30-31 December 2017
"Read 'Origin of Kibosh' and you will indeed be instructed and amused."
-- Anatoly Liberman, The Oxford Etymologist, 29 November 2017
'To the extent that it presents all the relevant evidence, unvarnished, thus inviting serious scholars to participate in the etymological thinking that accompanies the evidence, Origin of Kibosh sets a great example and makes its case. It's a small work of meticulous scholarship that will appeal to specialists in English (for its narrative) and etymologists (for its method).'
-- Michael Adams, Dictionaries (Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America), pp.289-298, Volume 41, Issue 2 (2020)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
Weight
320 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-367-59793-1 (9780367597931)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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Persons
Gerald Cohen is Professor of German and Russian, with a research specialty in etymology, at Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA.
Stephen Goranson works in the library of Duke University, where he also earned a doctorate.
Matthew Little is Associate Professor of English at Mississippi State University.
Stephen Goranson works in the library of Duke University, where he also earned a doctorate.
Matthew Little is Associate Professor of English at Mississippi State University.
Content
CHAPTER 1: Overview
CHAPTER 2: Introduction: 'Origin unknown'; previous works; chronology
CHAPTER 3: Penal Servitude! continued
CHAPTER 4: Spread of put the kibosh on from Cockney
CHAPTER 5: Kibosh in several newspaper accounts
CHAPTER 6: Additional attestations of kibosh
CHAPTER 7: Three competing etymologies are unconvincing
CHAPTER 8: General observations
APPENDICES
Appendix #1: Anatoly Liberman's 2013 article 'Three Recent
Theories of Kibosh, continued' (Aug. 14, 2013)
Appendix #2: kibosh-from-kurbash etymology, evidently first
Proposed by Matthew Little (Nov. 2009)
Appendix #3: Several newspaper items about chimney sweeps
Appendix #4: Political complexities in Britain of the early 1830s
Appendix #5: Notes & Queries items on a Yiddish origin of
kibosh/kybosh
Appendix #6: Two pictures illustrating use of the kurbash
REFERENCES
INDEX
CHAPTER 2: Introduction: 'Origin unknown'; previous works; chronology
CHAPTER 3: Penal Servitude! continued
CHAPTER 4: Spread of put the kibosh on from Cockney
CHAPTER 5: Kibosh in several newspaper accounts
CHAPTER 6: Additional attestations of kibosh
CHAPTER 7: Three competing etymologies are unconvincing
CHAPTER 8: General observations
APPENDICES
Appendix #1: Anatoly Liberman's 2013 article 'Three Recent
Theories of Kibosh, continued' (Aug. 14, 2013)
Appendix #2: kibosh-from-kurbash etymology, evidently first
Proposed by Matthew Little (Nov. 2009)
Appendix #3: Several newspaper items about chimney sweeps
Appendix #4: Political complexities in Britain of the early 1830s
Appendix #5: Notes & Queries items on a Yiddish origin of
kibosh/kybosh
Appendix #6: Two pictures illustrating use of the kurbash
REFERENCES
INDEX