Origin of Kibosh: Routledge Studies in Etymology - Softcover

Cohen, Gerald; Goranson, Stephen; Little, Matthew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0367597934 ISBN 13: 9780367597931

Publisher: Routledge, 2020

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0367597934
• ISBN 13: 9780367597931
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 162