Falasha

American  

[fah-lah-shuh, fuh-] / fɑˈlɑ ʃə, fə- /

noun

plural

Falashas,

plural

Falasha

1. Disparaging and Offensive. Beta Israel.

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Falasha British  

/ fəˈlæʃə /

noun

1. a member of a tribe of Black Ethiopian Jews

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Sensitive Note

The derogatory name Falasha refers to a community of Ethiopian Jews or to a member of this community, most of whom now live in Israel. The Amharic word falasha means "outsider, exile," and this name was given to the Ethiopian Jews by other Ethiopians. The community refers to itself as Beta Israel.

Etymology

Origin of Falasha

First recorded in 1710–15; from Amharic fälasha “immigrant, exile, stranger,” from fälash, active participle of fälläsä “to migrate”

Example Sentences

Nimeiri's offer to allow the evacuation of Falasha refugees to nations other than Israel did not draw any immediate criticism from fellow members of the Arab League.

From Time Magazine Archive

That obviously opened the door to Falasha rescue operations organized by Western governments, perhaps with the eventual goal of quietly resettling the Falashas in Israel.

From Time Magazine Archive

A major setback to the program is the fact that Falasha refugees in Sudan have blended into the anonymity of the camps and are sharing in the tragic fate of their other occupants.

From Time Magazine Archive

Foreign Minister Hashem Osman called in Arab, African and Asian diplomats to charge that Ethiopia had been "closing its eyes" to the Falasha exodus in return for weapons and money from Israel.

From Time Magazine Archive

Here they were heard of later under the name of Falasha Jews.

From The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela by Benjamin of Tudela