Where did the word nosh come from?

The word "nosh" is believed to have originated from Yiddish – a Germanic language spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. In Yiddish, "noshn" means "to snack" or "to eat a little bit."

The word made its way into English in the early 20th century, likely through the influence of Jewish immigrants to the United States. It initially referred to a light snack or meal, but over time, its usage expanded to encompass any kind of eating, even larger meals.