Weekly Word is a weekly post intended to illustrate the meaning and use of a single word. The chosen word will begin with a different letter of the alphabet each week, as Louise (my daughter) and I work our way through the alphabet.
Louise posts on her website:
This week’s word begins with the letter K:
Meaning:
To spoil or destroy an idea or plan; stop from happening or developing (usually used in the phrase, to put the kibosh on); nonsense
Pronunciation:
kahy-bosh, ki-bosh
Audio Link:
Part of Speech:
Noun
Related Forms:
Kibosh (transitive verb)
Kiboshes (3rd person present)
Kiboshed (past tense and past participle)
Kiboshing (present participle/gerund)
Synonyms:
veto, halt, interfere with, stop, scotch, inhibit, prohibit, nip in the bud, put a stop to, disrupt, thwart, quash, curb, cancel, check, hamper, hobble, bring to an end
Antonyms:
allow, permit, start, impel, give permission, propel
Word Origin:
First recorded in 1830–40; of obscure origin.
The following is from a number of sites including the Merriam Webster Dictionary:
Kibosh has been a part of the English language for almost two centuries, but its origin baffles etymologists. It was common in lower-class London speech and used by Dickens in 1836 in an early sketch. One source states that in early 19th century England, colloquially, the phrase, to put the kibosh on meant ‘to castigate, overwhelm (a person or political party such as the Whigs, who were failing to outlaw flogging in the military). In this case, the origin of kibosh could have been the alteration or imitation of kurbash – a whip. There are several other possible origins of the word, amongst others one from Yiddish and one from Gaelic, but I won’t go into them all here. There are also a variety of spellings such as kibbosh, kybosh and kyebosk – all of unclear origin.
Use the Word in a Sentence:
1. He put the kibosh on any plans his young daughter had made to attend the party with her new boyfriend.
2. The presence of a large crowd was kiboshing the entire police operation.
3. The unexpected downpour kiboshed their hopes of spending the afternoon picnicking in the park.
4. ‘Write it out again when you’re fully awake,’ Mrs Henderson said after casting a critical eye over Monica’s application for promotion. ‘As it stands this is kibosh and won’t even get you an interview let alone the elevated position you want.’
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If you would like to join us in doing this weekly post, both Louise and I would be happy to see you. You can pick of your own word and illustrate its use in any way you choose(even a short story) or use your chosen word to follow a similar pattern to our posts.
