shamas Hear it!

shamas definition

sha·mas (s̸hä′məs)

noun pl. shamosim sha·mo′·sim (-môs′im)

  1. a synagogue official who provides various services, often one who manages day-to-day affairs
  2. the candle used to light the other candles in a Hanukkah menorah

Etymology: Yiddish < Heb shamash, servant, sexton < root šmš, to serve, minister

Also shamos sha′·mos or shames sha′·mes

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.