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”; see also almuce ( def. ), amice ²

Explanation

A yarmulke is a small, brimless cap worn by Jewish people. Men and boys usually wear them, but some women and girls wear them, too. Yarmulke is a Yiddish word that sounds kind of like “yah-ma-kah.” Have you ever seen someone wearing a skullcap that sits toward the back of the head? That's a yarmulke. A yarmulke is worn by Orthodox Jews all the time and other Jews on religious occasions. During a Jewish prayer service, many people will be wearing yarmulkes. The yarmulke signifies great respect for the Jewish faith. If you see someone wearing a yarmulke on the street, you know they're devoted to the Jewish religion. The Hebrew name for yarmulke is kippah.

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

On Feb. 15, 2023, he drove to the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, where he spotted a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke — the Mr. H who spoke at Monday’s hearing.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2024

Mr. Edelman, who was 7 or 8 at the time — he doesn’t remember the exact year — was also wearing a yarmulke.

From New York Times • Dec. 25, 2022

They were talking about the Armenian sector and the best music stations on the radio when a Jewish man in a yarmulke walking by the shop addressed Liyana loudly in Hebrew.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye