What does shibboleth mean?
Definitions for shibboleth
ˈʃɪb ə lɪθ, -ˌlɛθshib·bo·leth
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word shibboleth.
Princeton's WordNet
motto, slogan, catchword, shibbolethnoun
a favorite saying of a sect or political group
shibbolethnoun
a manner of speaking that is distinctive of a particular group of people
Wiktionary
shibbolethnoun
A word, especially seen as a test, to distinguish someone as belonging to a particular nation, class, profession etc.
shibbolethnoun
A common or longstanding belief, custom, or catchphrase associated with a particular group, especially one with little current meaning or truth.
It's about time we abandoned the bourgeois shibboleth that earning money makes you a better person.
Etymology: From שבולת, with reference to Judges 12:5-6: ‘Gilead then cut Ephraim off from the fords of the Jordan, and whenever Ephraimite fugitives said, “Let me cross,” the men of Gilead would ask, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,” they then said, “Very well, say Shibboleth.” If anyone said “Sibboleth”, but could not pronounce it, they would then seize him and kill him by the fords of the Jordan.’ (New Jerusalem Bible)
Wikipedia
Shibboleth
A shibboleth ( (listen)) is any custom or tradition, usually a choice of phrasing or even a single word, that distinguishes one group of people from another. Shibboleths have been used throughout history in many societies as passwords, simple ways of self-identification, signaling loyalty and affinity, maintaining traditional segregation, or protecting from real or perceived threats.
ChatGPT
shibboleth
A shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, often used as a test of membership. It may also refer to a word or phrase that is difficult for people from a particular group to pronounce properly, thus revealing them as outsiders. The term originates from a Biblical story in which this method was used to identify enemies.
Webster Dictionary
Shibbolethnoun
a word which was made the criterion by which to distinguish the Ephraimites from the Gileadites. The Ephraimites, not being able to pronounce sh, called the word sibboleth. See Judges xii
Shibbolethnoun
also in an extended sense
Shibbolethnoun
hence, the criterion, test, or watchword of a party; a party cry or pet phrase
Etymology: [Heb. shibbleth an ear of corn, or a stream, a flood.]
Wikidata
Shibboleth
A shibboleth is a word, sound, or custom that a person unfamiliar with its significance may not pronounce or perform correctly relative to those who are familiar with it. It is used to identify foreigners or those who do not belong to a particular class or group of people. It also refers to features of language, and particularly to a word or phrase whose pronunciation identifies a speaker as belonging to a particular group.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Shibboleth
shib′bō-leth, n. (B.) a test-word used by the Gileadites under Jephthah to detect the fleeing Ephraimites, who could not pronounce the sh (Judges, xii. 4-6): the criterion or watchword of a party. [Heb., an ear of corn, or a stream.]
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Shibboleth
a word by which the Gileadites distinguished an Ephraimite from his inability to sound the sh in the word, and so discovered whether he was friend or foe; hence it has come to denote a party cry or watchword.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of shibboleth in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of shibboleth in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for shibboleth
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- šiboletCzech
- Klischee, Ansicht, Parole, Slogan, Schibboleth, SchlagwortGerman
- contraseña, santo y seña, doctrina anticuadaSpanish
- شیببولتPersian
- shibbolethFrench
- siobóilIrish
- shibbolethArmenian
- semboyanIndonesian
- שיבולתHebrew
- シボレスJapanese
- slogan, herkenningswoord, wachtwoord, visie, cliché, slagzin, woordDutch
- тайный пароль, шибболетRussian
- schibboletSwedish
- jiboletVolapük
- שיבאָלעטהYiddish
Get even more translations for shibboleth »
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"shibboleth." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/shibboleth>.
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