yarmulke

or yar·mel·ke, yar·mul·ka

[ yahr-muh l-kuh, -muh-, yah- ]

/ ˈyɑr məl kə, -mə-, ˈyɑ- /

noun Judaism.

a skullcap worn, especially during prayer and religious study, by Jewish males, especially those adhering to Orthodox or Conservative tradition.

Nearby words

Origin of yarmulke

1940–45; < Yiddish yarmlke < Polish jarmułka (earlier jałmurka, jamułka) or Ukrainian yarmúlka < Turkic; compare Turkish yağmurluk rain apparel, equivalent to yağmur rain + -luk noun suffix of appurtenance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for yarmulke

If they were meaningful, we might have realized it before—surely one of these kids wore a cross, or a yarmulke, or a hijab?
Harry Potter and the Torah of Terror|Candida Moss, Joel Baden|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
An older bro wore a red bow tie and a yarmulke emblazoned with the “TEAM MITCH” logo as he stared down at his smartphone intently.
Mitch’s Brotastic Victory Bash|Olivia Nuzzi|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A psychiatric resident came in to speak with Dianne and the husband saw he was wearing a yarmulke.
Why House Stenographer Dianne Reidy Snapped|Michael Daly|October 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Later, in French, he explains that he prefers to keep his yarmulke hidden.
The Last Jews of Tunisia|Paul Rosenfeld, Noah Rayman|March 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST

A kippa is a headcovering, a yarmulke, which in my case covers a bald dome.
New Words For A New War|Gil Troy|November 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for yarmulke

yarmulke

/ (ˈjɑːməlkə) /

noun

Judaism a skullcap worn by orthodox male Jews at all times, and by others during prayer

Word Origin for yarmulke

from Yiddish, from Ukrainian and Polish yarmulka cap, probably from Turkish yaǧmurluk raincoat, from yaǧmur rain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for yarmulke

yarmulke

1903, from Yiddish yarmulke, from Polish jarmułka, originally "a skullcap worn by priests," perhaps ultimately from Medieval Latin almutia "cowl, hood."

Culture definitions for yarmulke

yarmulke

[ (yah-muh-kuh, yahr-muhl-kuh) ]

In Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism, a skullcap worn by men as a sign of reverence while praying to God or talking about him.