English

Alternative forms

• kaibosh, kybosh, kyebosh, kiebosh

Noun

kibosh ‎(uncountable)

1. (slang, dated) Nonsense, bosh. [19th c.]

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Charles Dickens to this entry?)

2. (slang) A checking or restraining element. Only used in put the kibosh on.
3. (slang, dated) Fashion; style.
   • George Ade, Breaking into Society (1902), "Rugged Hiram and Hiram's Giddy Wife":

     She was, in very Sooth, among the highest of the Rollers, but Hiram stood for the Bills with nary a Whimper. He was proud to be the Husband of the Lady Ki-Bosh of the Local Knickerbockers.

Derived terms

• put the kibosh on

Verb

kibosh ‎(third-person singular simple present kiboshes, present participle kiboshing, simple past and past participle kiboshed)

1. (transitive) To decisively terminate.