Word of the Day for Tuesday, July 7, 2009
shibboleth \SHIB-uh-lith; -leth\, noun:
shibboleth \SHIB-uh-lith; -leth\, noun:
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1. A peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular group of persons.
1. A peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular group of persons.
2. A slogan; a catchword.
3. A common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth.
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The B.O. won office based on a shibboleth, not on experience!
--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog
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Shibboleth is from Hebrew shibboleth, "stream, flood," from the use of this word in the Bible (Judges 12:4-6) as a test to distinguish Gileadites from Ephraimites, who could not say 'sh' but only 's' as in 'sibboleth'.
Shibboleth is from Hebrew shibboleth, "stream, flood," from the use of this word in the Bible (Judges 12:4-6) as a test to distinguish Gileadites from Ephraimites, who could not say 'sh' but only 's' as in 'sibboleth'.
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