Jewish History. a lamb slaughtered and eaten on the eve of the first day of Passover. Exodus 12:3–11.
(initial capital letters) Christ.
(initial capital letters) any of several symbolic representations of Christ, as the Agnus Dei.
Also called Holy Lamb. (initial capital letters) a representation of a lamb passant having around its head a nimbus and supporting on the dexter shoulder a crosslike staff bearing a flag argent charged with a cross gules.
(sometimes not capitals) Old Testament the lamb killed and eaten on the first day of the Passover
Christ regarded as this sacrifice
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Soon there will be strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, snow peas and watercress, the paschal lamb, the Easter ham.
From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2017
In a rough-hewn but softly hued departure from his other, often starker work, Baskin evokes many of the familiar Passover figures �the paschal lamb, Pharaoh, the plagues, and the prophet Elijah.
From Time Magazine Archive
The paschal lamb; the smitten rock; the brazen serpent; and the scape-goat on the day of expiation, exhibited this feature of Messiah’s character.
From The Wesleyan Methodist Pulpit in Malvern Sermons Preached at the Opening Services of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, in 1866 by King, Knowles
For among the ceremonial precepts, the chief was circumcision and the sacrifice of the paschal lamb.
From Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) From the Complete American Edition by Thomas, Aquinas, Saint
That which is typified in the blood of the paschal lamb on Israel's doors in Egypt.
From The Assembly of God Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, volume III by Mackintosh, C. (Charles) H. (Henry)
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
