Kike
In modern English language, the word kike (IPA: /ˈkаɪk/) is a negative, highly offensive term referring to a Jew. In some languages, such as Spanish, this word (pronounced /ˈkike/ and sometimes spelled Quique) is a given name or shortened from a longer form (usually from Enrique).
Etymology
The etymology of the term is uncertain. It may be an alteration of a common ending of the personal names of Eastern European Jews who immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century[citation needed]. The first recorded usage of the term is in 1904.[1][2]
According to Leo Rosten,
The word kike was born on Ellis Island when Jewish immigrants who were illiterate (or could not use Roman-English letters), when asked to sign the entry-forms with the customary 'X,'* refused, because they associated an X with the cross of Christianity, and instead made a circle. The Yiddish word for 'circle' is kikel (pronounced KY-kul), and for 'little circle,' kikeleh (pronounced ky-kul-uh. Before long the immigration inspectors were calling anyone who signed with an 'O' instead of an 'X' a kikel or kikeleh or kikee or, finally and succinctly, kike.[3]
According to Rosten, Jewish American merchants continued to sign with an 'O' instead of an 'X' for several decades, spreading the nickname kike wherever they went as a result. At that time kike was more of an affectionate term, used by Jews to describe other Jews, and only developed into an ethnic slur later on.[2]
In his book How the Irish Invented Slang: the Secret Language of the Crossroads, Daniel Cassidy suggests an alternative etymology. Cassidy notes that the Irish Language word Ciabhóg (pronounced k'i'og) was the general term used by the Irish and Irish-Americans to denote the payot of Orthodox Jews. The Irish word Ciabhóg means side-curl, which is what payot are.
Another possible etymology is that the term, derived Greek word for circle, kyklos, referenced the practice of circumcision.[citation needed]
According to "Our Crowd", by Stephen Birmingham, the term "kike" was coined as a derogatory putdown by the assimilated American German Jews to identify Eastern-European Jews: "Because many Russian [Jewish] names ended in 'ki', they were called 'kikes'- a German Jewish contribution to the American vernacular. The name then proceeded to be co-opted by Gentiles as is gained prominence in its usage in society, and was later used as a demeaning Anti-Semitic slur.
Another proposed theory is that "kike" is a reference to Isaac; a common Jewish, biblical name.[citation needed]
“Kike” could also stem from the word “keek”, a Yiddish term referring to individuals who were hired by tailors and clothing manufacturers to spy on the new designs in production by their competitors.[citation needed]
In literature
- Harry Turtledove in his Worldwar series where alien invaders interrupt WWII, in speeches by Nazi German characters, uses "kike" as an English rendering of their German-language derogatory words for Jews.
See also
- List of ethnic group names used as insults (distinct from the below)
- List of ethnic slurs
- Profanity
- Yid
References
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, kike
- ^ a b Kim Pearson's Rhetoric of Race by Eric Wolarsky. The College of New Jersey.
- ^ Leo Rosten: The Joys of Yiddish, cited in Kim Pearson's Rhetoric of Race by Eric Wolarsky. The College of New Jersey.