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Origin of the word “pushka” [on hold]

4

1

European Jews tend to use the word “pushka” for ‘charity box’. What is the origin of the word?

As far as I can tell, Slavic languages use somewhat similar sounding words for ‘container’. In particular, in Polish ‘puszka’ means ‘[tin/metal] container’. Perhaps it evolved from there being that coins deposited in such a container would jingle thereby calling attention for almsgiving.

I realize the above theory may be the origin but I’m curious if others agree or if there are other theories.

sources-mekorot words tzedakah-charity language

share|improve this question

edited Mar 10 at 3:20

רבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

asked Mar 10 at 3:06

OliverOliver

8,192943

put on hold as off-topic by Salmononius2, magicker72, mbloch, Alex, sabbahillel Mar 10 at 15:21

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "This question does not appear to be about Judaism within the scope defined in the help center. Note that not all questions about the Hebrew language, about history or news of the Jewish people, about Jewish individuals, or about the State of Israel are necessarily about Judaism." – Salmononius2, magicker72, mbloch, Alex, sabbahillel

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Awesome question! +1
  
  – רבות מחשבות
  Mar 10 at 3:11
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In serbian pushka means rifle
  
  – Milan Stojanovic
  Mar 10 at 10:55
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

4

1

European Jews tend to use the word “pushka” for ‘charity box’. What is the origin of the word?

As far as I can tell, Slavic languages use somewhat similar sounding words for ‘container’. In particular, in Polish ‘puszka’ means ‘[tin/metal] container’. Perhaps it evolved from there being that coins deposited in such a container would jingle thereby calling attention for almsgiving.

I realize the above theory may be the origin but I’m curious if others agree or if there are other theories.

sources-mekorot words tzedakah-charity language

share|improve this question

edited Mar 10 at 3:20

רבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

asked Mar 10 at 3:06

OliverOliver

8,192943

put on hold as off-topic by Salmononius2, magicker72, mbloch, Alex, sabbahillel Mar 10 at 15:21

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "This question does not appear to be about Judaism within the scope defined in the help center. Note that not all questions about the Hebrew language, about history or news of the Jewish people, about Jewish individuals, or about the State of Israel are necessarily about Judaism." – Salmononius2, magicker72, mbloch, Alex, sabbahillel

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Awesome question! +1
  
  – רבות מחשבות
  Mar 10 at 3:11
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In serbian pushka means rifle
  
  – Milan Stojanovic
  Mar 10 at 10:55
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

European Jews tend to use the word “pushka” for ‘charity box’. What is the origin of the word?

As far as I can tell, Slavic languages use somewhat similar sounding words for ‘container’. In particular, in Polish ‘puszka’ means ‘[tin/metal] container’. Perhaps it evolved from there being that coins deposited in such a container would jingle thereby calling attention for almsgiving.

I realize the above theory may be the origin but I’m curious if others agree or if there are other theories.

sources-mekorot words tzedakah-charity language

share|improve this question

edited Mar 10 at 3:20

רבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

asked Mar 10 at 3:06

OliverOliver

8,192943

share|improve this question

edited Mar 10 at 3:20

רבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

asked Mar 10 at 3:06

OliverOliver

8,192943

share|improve this question

edited Mar 10 at 3:20

רבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

asked Mar 10 at 3:06

OliverOliver

8,192943

edited Mar 10 at 3:20

רבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

edited Mar 10 at 3:20

רבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

asked Mar 10 at 3:06

OliverOliver

8,192943

asked Mar 10 at 3:06

OliverOliver

8,192943

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

5

From Yiddish Word of the Week here:

Etymology: There seems to be a dispute about etymology here. Leo Rosten, in his Joys of Yiddish (p. 296; unfortunately not available online), argues that it derives from the Polish word for can, “puszka.” Thus, a pushke is simply “a little can or container kept in the home, often in the kitchen, in which money to be donated to a charity is accumulated.” While this would seem to be the simplest explanation, I am intrigued by another, which I found here: Apparently (at least according to the Jastrow dictionary), the Aramaic word pushka (פושקא) or (פושכא), means “handsbreadth, palm.” As such, the word, in its Yiddish context, refers to the stretching out of the hand to receive alms. When taken together, the two sources form a whole: One stretches out one’s pushka with a pushke in it in order to receive tzedoke.

Also, Shaul Stampfer agrees that it comes from the Polish, see here, footnote 1.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 10 at 3:16

רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Though it most definitely comes from the Polish word, the fact that an interesting chiddush can be made from the Aramaic word is awesome! +1
  
  – ezra
  Mar 10 at 3:58
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

From Yiddish Word of the Week here:

Etymology: There seems to be a dispute about etymology here. Leo Rosten, in his Joys of Yiddish (p. 296; unfortunately not available online), argues that it derives from the Polish word for can, “puszka.” Thus, a pushke is simply “a little can or container kept in the home, often in the kitchen, in which money to be donated to a charity is accumulated.” While this would seem to be the simplest explanation, I am intrigued by another, which I found here: Apparently (at least according to the Jastrow dictionary), the Aramaic word pushka (פושקא) or (פושכא), means “handsbreadth, palm.” As such, the word, in its Yiddish context, refers to the stretching out of the hand to receive alms. When taken together, the two sources form a whole: One stretches out one’s pushka with a pushke in it in order to receive tzedoke.

Also, Shaul Stampfer agrees that it comes from the Polish, see here, footnote 1.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 10 at 3:16

רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Though it most definitely comes from the Polish word, the fact that an interesting chiddush can be made from the Aramaic word is awesome! +1
  
  – ezra
  Mar 10 at 3:58
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

From Yiddish Word of the Week here:

Etymology: There seems to be a dispute about etymology here. Leo Rosten, in his Joys of Yiddish (p. 296; unfortunately not available online), argues that it derives from the Polish word for can, “puszka.” Thus, a pushke is simply “a little can or container kept in the home, often in the kitchen, in which money to be donated to a charity is accumulated.” While this would seem to be the simplest explanation, I am intrigued by another, which I found here: Apparently (at least according to the Jastrow dictionary), the Aramaic word pushka (פושקא) or (פושכא), means “handsbreadth, palm.” As such, the word, in its Yiddish context, refers to the stretching out of the hand to receive alms. When taken together, the two sources form a whole: One stretches out one’s pushka with a pushke in it in order to receive tzedoke.

Also, Shaul Stampfer agrees that it comes from the Polish, see here, footnote 1.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 10 at 3:16

רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Though it most definitely comes from the Polish word, the fact that an interesting chiddush can be made from the Aramaic word is awesome! +1
  
  – ezra
  Mar 10 at 3:58
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

From Yiddish Word of the Week here:

Etymology: There seems to be a dispute about etymology here. Leo Rosten, in his Joys of Yiddish (p. 296; unfortunately not available online), argues that it derives from the Polish word for can, “puszka.” Thus, a pushke is simply “a little can or container kept in the home, often in the kitchen, in which money to be donated to a charity is accumulated.” While this would seem to be the simplest explanation, I am intrigued by another, which I found here: Apparently (at least according to the Jastrow dictionary), the Aramaic word pushka (פושקא) or (פושכא), means “handsbreadth, palm.” As such, the word, in its Yiddish context, refers to the stretching out of the hand to receive alms. When taken together, the two sources form a whole: One stretches out one’s pushka with a pushke in it in order to receive tzedoke.

Also, Shaul Stampfer agrees that it comes from the Polish, see here, footnote 1.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 10 at 3:16

רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 10 at 3:16

רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

answered Mar 10 at 3:16

רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות

14.4k128121

answered Mar 10 at 3:16

רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות

14.4k128121