SHIBBOLETH


Meaning of SHIBBOLETH in English

/shib"euh lith, -leth'/ , n.

1. a peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular class or set of persons.

2. a slogan; catchword.

3. a common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth.

[ shibboleth lit., freshet, a word used by the Gileadites as a test to detect the fleeing Ephraimites, who could not pronounce the sound sh (Judges 12:4-6) ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .