hechsher

English

Alternative forms

• hekhsher

Etymology

From Hebrew הכשר (“prior approval”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛkʃəɹ/

Noun

hechsher (plural hechshers or hechsherim)

1. A certification that a food product or establishment is kosher.
2. A marking indicating that a food product has such a certification.
   • 2004 October 3, Shlomo Chaim, “Simple questions (yah, right)”, in soc.culture.jewish.moderated‎^[1] (Usenet):

     I notice Pepsi and other kinds of sodas at the shul and at various frum households. Hey, man, there ain't no hekhshers on that stuff. What gives?

Verb

hechsher (third-person singular simple present hechshers, present participle hechshering, simple past and past participle hechshered)

1. To certify as kosher.
   • 2004 November 17, animzmirot, “Keeping Kosher?”, in alt.tv.amazing-race‎^[2] (Usenet):

     Kashrut means that you eat ONLY foods that have been supervised and hechshered by a specific organization that is responsible for watching the manufacture and packaging of any particular product. It is NOT just avoiding pigs and shellfish.