yarmulke

American  

[-muhl-, yahr-, yah-muh-kuh] / -məl-, ˈyɑr-, ˈyɑ mə kə /

Or yarmelke,

noun

Judaism.

1. a skullcap worn by Orthodox Jewish males, also worn by most Conservative and some Reform Jewish males during prayer.

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yarmulke British  

/ ˈjɑːməlkə /

noun

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

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yarmulke Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of yarmulke

First recorded in 1845–50 as jarmolka; from Yiddish yarmlke, from Polish jarmułka, jamułka (earlier jałmurka, ) or Ukrainian yarmúlka, from Turkic; compare Turkish yağmurluk “rain gear,” equivalent to yağmur “rain” + -luk noun suffix; or from Medieval Latin almutia, armutia, aumucia, almucia “(furred) hood, hooded cape”; almuce ( def. ), amice ²

Example Sentences

The Air Force was allowed to insist that a Jewish officer not wear a yarmulke.

From Slate • Jul. 1, 2025

Former President Donald Trump donned a black yarmulke as he visited Ohel Chabad Lubavitch, the final resting place of Rabbi Schneerson in Queens, New York on Monday.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024

The man was leaving religious services and also wearing a yarmulke.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2024

The first and only time that Alex Edelman’s family celebrated Christmas, their tree was topped not by a star, but a teddy bear wearing a yarmulke.

From New York Times • Dec. 25, 2022

A Hasidic Jewish guy, complete with the white pants, yarmulke, tassels hanging off him, braided hair, and sandals, dashes down the hall toward me.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini