keppy

Alternative Spellings

kepi, keppie

Definitions

• head, little head (informal, diminutive, often in child-directed speech)

Example Sentences

• "Lay your keppie down and rest a bit."
• "Watch your keppy - I'm closing the door."

Languages of Origin

Yiddish, English

Etymology

Yiddish קאָפּ kop 'head', diminutive forms קעפּל/קעפּעלע képl/képele; diminutive ending replaced with English diminutive -i

Who Uses This

Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education
Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

Regions

North America

Dictionaries

Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).