Christ-killer

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Christ +‎ killer. First use appears c. 1532 in the publications of Saint Thomas More. The first sense derives from the antisemitic smear that Jews were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkraɪs(t)ˌkɪlə(r)/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Christ-killer (plural Christ-killers)

  1. (ethnic slur, offensive) A Jew.
    • 1917, Abraham Cahan, The Rise of David Levinsky, A Novel, page 9:
      Sometimes, when a Jew chanced to visit it some of its boys would descend upon him with shouts of "Damned Jew!" "Christ-killer!" and sick their dogs at him.
  2. (dated, obsolete, offensive) One who is considered to have spoken or acted against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

See also

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