shammes

noun

sham·​mes ˈshä-məs 

plural shammosim shä-ˈmȯ-səm 

1

: the sexton of a synagogue

2

: the candle or taper used to light the other candles in a Hanukkah menorah

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish shames, from Late Hebrew shāmmāsh

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1