noun pl. rabbis
- Judaism a scholar and teacher of the Jewish law; now, specif., an ordained Jew, usually the spiritual head of a congregation, qualified to decide questions of law and ritual and to perform marriages, supervise religious education, etc.
- Slang a sponsor; influential friend
Origin:
ME < OE < LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) rhabbi < Heb rabi, my master, my lord < rav, teacher, master + -i, my