shammes

noun
sham·​mes | \ ˈshä-məs How to pronounce shammes (audio) \
plural shammosim\ shä-​ˈmȯ-​səm How to pronounce shammosim (audio) \

Definition of shammes

1 : the sexton of a synagogue
2 : the candle or taper used to light the other candles in a Hanukkah menorah

First Known Use of shammes

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for shammes

Yiddish shames, from Late Hebrew shāmmāsh

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