dreidel

American  

[dreyd-l] / ˈdreɪd l /

noun

PLURAL

dreidels, dreidel

1. a four-sided top bearing the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, he, and shin, one on each side, used chiefly in a children's game traditionally played on the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

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Etymology

Origin of dreidel

1925–30; < Yiddish dreydl, equivalent to drey ( en ) to rotate, turn (< Middle High German dræ ( je ) n, dræhen; compare G. drehen ) + -dl noun suffix

Example Sentences

I once threw an impromptu bash on the 4th night of Chanukah, sharing latkes and dreidels with out-of-town students and other “holiday orphans.”

From Salon

Inspired by an “amazing” projection display Lam once saw while visiting Jerusalem, the multipart spectacular leads groups of cars through a luminous wonderland complete with giant dreidels, disco balls, LED screens, infinity mirrors and more.

From Los Angeles Times

The holiday, a greasy-potato festival of dreidels and jelly doughnuts, celebrates several miracles.

From Washington Post

Last year was the first that Kaltmann hired a helicopter to drop dreidels and candy from the sky for children.

From Seattle Times

Jews around the world gathered Sunday night to mark the first of eight nights of Hanukkah - lighting menorahs, spinning the dreidel, exchanging gifts and frying up latkes.

From Fox News