kosher

[ koh-sher ]

adjective

1. Judaism.
   1. fit or allowed to be eaten or used, according to the dietary or ceremonial laws:

      kosher meat; kosher dishes; a kosher Torah scroll.

   2. adhering to the laws governing such fitness:

      a kosher restaurant.

2. Informal.
   1. proper; legitimate.
   2. genuine; authentic.

noun

1. kosher food:

   Where can I eat kosher in Mexico City?

verb (used with object)

1. to make kosher:

   to kosher meat by salting.

kosher

/ ˈkəʊʃə /

adjective

1. Judaism conforming to religious law; fit for use: esp, (of food) prepared in accordance with the dietary laws See also kasher kashruth
2. informal.
   1. genuine or authentic
   2. legitimate or proper

kosher

¹

1. Food that is permitted according to a set of dietary restrictions found in the Old Testament . For many Jews (see also Jews ), foods that are not kosher cannot be eaten. The term can also be used colloquially to mean anything acceptable: “I don't think it's kosher to yell at your chess opponent when he is thinking about his next move.”

kosher

²

1. The descriptive term in Judaism for food and other objects that are clean according to its laws. These laws are contained in the Torah and forbid, for example, the eating of pork or shellfish, the mixing of dairy products and meat, and certain methods of slaughtering animals.

Other Words From

• non·kosher adjective noun
• un·kosher adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kosher¹

First recorded in 1850–55 kosher fordef 1; 1885–90 kosher fordef 3; 1895–1900 kosher fordef 2; from Yiddish, from Ashkenazi pronunciation of Hebrew kāshēr “right, fit”

Word History and Origins

Origin of kosher¹

C19: from Yiddish, from Hebrew kāshēr right, proper

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. keep kosher, to adhere to the dietary laws of Judaism.

Example Sentences

So, it takes some courage to suggest that those billions and trillions may not be kosher.

From Freakonomics

They weren’t telling them because they knew what they were doing wasn’t kosher.

From Washington Post

Season all over with 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, rubbing to adhere.

From Popular-Science

Her talents as a home chef were so apparent that she soon began taking kosher catering orders for hotel guests visiting Dubai.

From Ozy

At Saffron in New Orleans, bar director Ashwin Vilkhu keeps a kosher salt solution on hand for a variety of drinks, including the Junglee Bird.

From Popular-Science

The gentleman was listed as Orthodox and kosher, which is way too religious for my friend whose JSwipe account I was test-driving.

From The Daily Beast

According to a 2013 Pew Research Center study 28 percent of Jews ages 18 to 49 keep kosher inside their homes.

From The Daily Beast

With some, though, there was nothing to be done to help a kosher gal out.

From The Daily Beast

At an event about traditionally Jewish food, I initially expected a little more awareness of kosher restrictions.

From The Daily Beast

Mixing meat and dairy is a kosher rule-breaker, so they switched the cheese for potatoes.

From The Daily Beast

He wanted eighty roubles, and swore by his kosher Yiddishkeit (ritually pure Judaism) that the affair would cost him seventy-five.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Enoch, the kosher butcher, rose amid excitement, and asked if he had come there to be insulted!

From Project Gutenberg

I met him one day in one of his resorts, a "kosher" lunch room of the Jewish district.

From Project Gutenberg

She helps an aunt who conducts a little kosher delicatessen shop in a Hester-st.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a bit more mellow than most and, like all kosher products, is stamped by the Jewish authorities who prepare it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• genuine
• real
• true
• unadulterated