shammes in British English
or shammash (ˈʃɑːməs, Hebrew ʃaˈmaʃ)
nounWord forms: plural shammosim or shammashim (Hebrew ʃaˈmɔsɪm) Judaism1. an official acting as the beadle, sexton, and caretaker of a synagogue
2. the extra candle used on the Feast of Hanukkah to kindle the lamps or candles of the menorah
Word origin
from Hebrew
shāmmāsh, from Aramaic
shĕmāsh to serve