the anniversary of the death of a close relative, on which it is customary to kindle a light and recite the Kaddish and also, in some communities, to observe a fast
Word origin
Yiddish, from Middle High German jārzīt anniversary; see year, tide1
yahrzeit in American English
(ˈjɑrtsaɪt; ˈjɔrtsaɪt)
noun
Judaism
the anniversary of the death of a parent or other member of the immediate family, commemorated by the lighting of a 24-hour candle (yahrzeit candle), the saying of kaddish, etc.
Word origin
Yiddish yortsayt < MHG jārzīt, anniversary < jār (Ger jahr), year + zīt (Ger zeit), time: see tide1