blood libel

noun

1. the false accusation that Jews murder Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals:

   blood libels that spread throughout Europe in the Middle Ages.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blood libel¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

In trying to explain and verbalize their shock, many British Jews made reference, in some way or another, to the Blood Libel.

From The Daily Beast

Doubts that began with talk of “death panels” only grew with mutterings about “blood libel.”

From The Daily Beast

She started the year with the famously self-pitying “blood libel” remark after the Gabrielle Giffords shooting tragedy in January.

From The Daily Beast

Howard Kurtz on her un-presidential move and why "blood libel" offends Jewish people.

From The Daily Beast

Blood libel was a specialty, as was calling white people ugly and black people beautiful.

From The Daily Beast