/maʃɡiːˈxiːm/, U.S. /ˌmɑʃɡiˈxim/, mashgihim, (irregular) mashgiachim.mashgiachn.
/maʃˈɡɪəx/, U.S. /mɑʃˈɡiɑx/, /mɑʃˈɡiəx//maʃɡiːˈxiːm/, U.S. /ˌmɑʃɡiˈxim/, mashgihim, (irregular) mashgiachim. Judaism.
A person authorized to inspect or supervise premises where food is kept or prepared, in order to ensure compliance with Jewish dietary laws. Cf. Kashrut n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > cooking > food taster or tester > [noun] > inspector of food
food inspector1873
mashgiach1901
shomer1909
1901 Hebrew Standard 22 Feb. 1/5 The Rabbi is therefore called upon to make a practical use of his profession and ability... He thenceforth becomes a Mashgiach, or a very distorted form of the Rabbi of tradition.
1914 Amer. Jewish Year Bk. 271 Bet Din takes no responsibility for the kashrut at public dinners, unless supervised by a duly authorized mashgiah.
1962 Standard Jewish Encycl. 1278/2 Mashgiaḥ,..overseer appointed to supervise the observance of kashrut laws in the preparation of food.
1967 Boston Sunday Herald 26 Mar. vi. 5/4 On request, both the 23,000-ton Olympia and the 26,300-ton Queen Anna Maria offer kosher cuisine from special kitchens supervised by a ‘mashgiach’.
1973 Jewish Chron. 7 Dec. 21/1 The glatt kosher butchers and caterers..do not make use of..mashgichim, rabbis who are kashrut supervisors.
1994 Atlanta Jrnl. & Constit. 26 Mar. e6/2 Although there's always plenty of work for a mashgiach, or kosher inspector, the time around Passover is particularly busy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2000; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
n.1901