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

Season the lamb chops with a sprinkle of kosher salt.

From Salon

These ideas swirl around Maddie, whose family eats kosher and observes the high holidays, and who rebels against her culture’s expectations of her as a wife and mother.

From Los Angeles Times

Tran told law enforcement that he looked online for a “kosher market” and decided to shoot someone nearby, according to an FBI affidavit.

From Seattle Times

The plea agreement also detailed Tran researching locations with a “kosher market,” planning to shoot someone in that area.

From Los Angeles Times

The students from Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital had just 18 minutes to prep and cook the cracker-like, unleavened Passover staple if they wanted to keep it kosher for the holiday.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• genuine
• real
• true
• unadulterated