kosher
UK[ˈkəʊʃə]US[ˈkoʊʃər]
adj
(Of food) prepared according to Jewish law.
adj
(Informal) genuine, legitimate, or correct.
Etymology
The word 'kosher' entered English in the mid-19th century from the Yiddish word 'kosher', which itself derives from the Hebrew 'kāshēr', meaning 'fit' or 'proper'. Its original and primary meaning is strictly religious, referring to food that complies with the detailed dietary laws of Judaism. Through metaphorical extension in informal English, the term broadened to describe anything that is authentic, legitimate, or acceptable, capturing the sense of being 'proper' in a more general context.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Hebrew. It is not productively segmented into smaller, meaningful morphemes within the English spelling system.
Examples
The restaurant has a certificate to prove its food is kosher.
He wanted to make sure the deal was completely kosher before signing.
She checked the packaging for a kosher symbol.