Pronunciation: bät- ' mits-v ə
Variant: also bas mitz · vah \ bäs- \
Function: noun
Usage: often cap B&M
Etymology: Hebrew bath mi ş w ā h, literally, daughter of the (divine) law
Date: 1938
1 : a Jewish girl who at 12 or more years of age assumes religious responsibilities
2 : the initiatory ceremony recognizing a girl as a bat mitzvah