shammes

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(s̸hä′məs)

or shammas

noun

shamas

See shammes in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. sham·mo·sim (shä-môˈsĭm)
Judaism
  1. A sexton in a synagogue.
  2. The candle used to light the other eight candles of a Hanukkah menorah.

Origin:

Origin: Yiddish shames

Origin: , from Hebrew šammāš

Origin: , from Aramaic šammāš, servant, minister

Origin: , probably from Egyptian šmsw, servant

Origin: , from šms, to follow, serve

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