Origin of Kibosh

<p>This is an etymological study of the origins of the word <i>kibosh</i>, 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’. </p><p></p><p>In this study, the authors present convincing and important new evidence in favour of the derivation of <i>kibosh</i> from the word for a fearsome Middle Eastern whip, known as the <i>kurbash</i>. </p><p></p><p>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. </p> <p>CHAPTER 1: Overview</p><p></p><p>CHAPTER 2: Introduction: ‘Origin unknown’; previous works; chronology </p><p></p><p>CHAPTER 3: <i>Penal Servitude!</i> continued </p><p></p><p>CHAPTER 4: Spread of <i>put the kibosh on</i> from Cockney </p><p></p><p>CHAPTER 5: <i>Kibosh</i> in several newspaper accounts</p><p></p><p>CHAPTER 6: Additional attestations of <i>kibosh</i> </p><p></p><p>CHAPTER 7: Three competing etymologies are unconvincing</p><p></p><p>CHAPTER 8: General observations</p><p></p><p>APPENDICES</p><p></p><p>Appendix #1: Anatoly Liberman’s 2013 article ‘Three Recent </p><p></p><p>Theories of <i>Kibosh</i>, continued’ (Aug. 14, 2013)</p><p></p><p>Appendix #2: <i>kibosh</i>-from-<i>kurbash</i> etymology, evidently first </p><p></p><p>Proposed by Matthew Little (Nov. 2009)</p><p></p><p>Appendix #3: Several newspaper items about chimney sweeps</p><p></p><p>Appendix #4: Political complexities in Britain of the early 1830s</p><p></p><p>Appendix #5: <i>Notes & Queries</i> items on a Yiddish origin of </p><p></p><p><i>kibosh/kybosh</i></p><p></p><p>Appendix #6: Two pictures illustrating use of the kurbash</p><p></p><p>REFERENCES</p><p></p><p>INDEX</p>