shammash

noun

sham·​mash

variants or shamash or shammas or shamas or shammes or shames or shammos or shamus

ˈshäməs 

plural shammashim or shamashim or shammasim or shamasim or shammosim or shamosim

shäˈmȯsə̇m,

-sēm

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 & Middle Hebrew; Yiddish shames, from Middle Hebrew shāmmāsh, from Aramaic shĕmmāsh to serve

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