guggie Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Doe anyone know since when the term kibitzers is used for "bridge-watchers"? And what si the origin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothy Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Dear Guggs, Being a goy i am showing a bit of chutzpah defining this word so forgive me if its definition is a bit schlok :P I believe it comes from the Yiddish and in its original context it meant to view from afar or to give advice without being asked... The noun derivative kibbitzer took on a special meaning and normally referred to somebody who (1) pries into your business or (2) stands on the side-lines and offers you unheeded advice about overcoming a problem. Of course, if you are married you must surely notice that definitions (1) and (2), in random order, most surely describe the personality of your mother-in-law, whether she be a Jewess or otherwise. If you are single or divorced, like myself, again you must surely notice that definitions (1) and (2), in random order, most likely describe the personality of your mother, a self-appointed role she sincerely believes you cannot live without. I would not be surprised if it took on its bridge context by being used to describe people watching card-games that were precedents of bridge. In the States especially modern-day bridge gained popularity in the Jewish communities. (Ely Cuthbertson, for example, the Abe of American Bridge was a Jew). Naturally, Yiddish words seeped into bridge vocabulary. Of course, mamy other Yiddish words have come into popular use, especially on BBO. For example 'lukewarmim' is a collective noun for a group of kibbitizim who lurk at your table and talk incessantly about nothing of particular interest for over 35 mins to the degree that you lose total concentration and fluff a hand. In these moments. you wish 'Freday' had implemented a 'Ban Lukewarmim From Kibbitzing This Table' button. I think i will go to Software suggestions and post forthwith. An example of its use would be..."Geez, i was playing that 6♥ contract and went off coz of those lurkwarmim"... I hope that has answered your question. Alaichem shalom Sloffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badderzboy Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 From a little bit of surfing... kibitz, kibbitz v.i., v.t., kibitzer n. related to kiebitzen, Kiebitz "kibitz, kibitzer": to look on and interfere or give unwanted, meddlesome or intrusive comments, advice or criticism, especially during a card game; to chat, converse [< Yiddish kibetsn < German kiebitzen < German thieves' jargon kiebitschen "to examine, search, look through, go through", influenced by German Kiebitz "any of several birds called peewits" (imitative)]. Never been called akin to a Peewit something close but not a Peewit! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothy Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Steve, To take this thread to its logical Yiddish conclusion... Peewit comes from Yiddish word putzhumour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke warm Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 i take exception to slothy's post above... neither i nor anyone even remotely discriminating has ever kibbed him for even 10 minutes, much less 35... only reason i even drop by is cuz aisha begs me to... oops, i probably was supposed to keep that to myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothy Posted January 22, 2005 Report Share Posted January 22, 2005 only reason i even drop by is cuz aisha begs me to... oops, i probably was supposed to keep that to myself Can only suggest that you are one of those people who writes a signature (trust you to choose a latter-day cowboy, jim) and not really abide by its inherent moral.... <chuckle, chuckle> Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Thank you, Slothy. That was some goog information. I always thought kibitzer is an ugly east-African bird with a terribly poignant voice. <_< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothy Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Welcome to the forums McG.... (May i suggest that you dont press your face too hard against a window-screen..) Your singular post is one which i took to heart. It is very rare that i get thanked on this forum by anybody. Alas, perhaps i expect too much. They are a vicious bunch on here McG <_< very willing to remove the brake-pads off your wheel-chair given half the chance. they criticise you mercilessly, want their pound of flesh ( which unfortunately is normally (one of) your kidney(s)) and only agree with anything you say if they happened to say it themselves in a previous thread somewhere...So, for the latin scholars amongst you my moto is "Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. Vescere bracis meis." hee hee... I hope that doesnt discourage you from posting more....especially if it were to thank me once again...i will accept it with the partial sincerity with which it would be written You wrote: I always thought kibitzer is an ugly east-African bird with a terribly poignant voice. You are thinking of kibbitter the nik of of a Tanzanian lady who comes onto BBO. However, once she powders her nose and applies her foundation she dont look so bad.... (If there is anybody on BBO with the actual nik kibbitter i sincerely apologise :) ) Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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