shammes

Or sha·mes

[shah-muhs]

noun

plural

shammosim 

1. sexton.

2. the candle used to kindle the candles in the Hanukkah menorah.

shammes

/ ˈʃɑːməs, ʃaˈmaʃ /

noun

1. an official acting as the beadle, sexton, and caretaker of a synagogue

2. the extra candle used on the Feast of Hanukkah to kindle the lamps or candles of the menorah

Word History and Origins

Origin of shammes¹

1945–50; < Yiddish shames < Hebrew shammāsh server, attendant

Word History and Origins

Origin of shammes¹

from Hebrew shāmmāsh, from Aramaic shĕmāsh to serve

Example Sentences

Nathanson was the Shammes and treasurer of the Khille.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Rabbi Dr. Merzbach has been dead a long time, and Cantor Elias, and Meyer Nathanson the Shammes, and Saul Feuerstein, the professional bankrupt, and Dr. Krakauer, saving your reverence, and all the others.

Read more on Project Gutenberg