shibboleth

shib·bo·leth

S0341100 (shĭb′ə-lĭth, -lĕth′)n.1. A word or pronunciation that distinguishes people of one group or class from those of another.2. a. A word or phrase identified with a particular group or cause; a catchword.b. A commonplace saying or idea.3. A custom or practice that betrays one as an outsider.

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[Ultimately from Hebrew šibbōlet, torrent of water, from the use of this word to distinguish one tribe from another that pronounced it sibbōlet (Judges 12:4-6).]

shibboleth

(ˈʃɪbəˌlɛθ) n1. a belief, principle, or practice which is commonly adhered to but which is thought by some people to be inappropriate or out of date2. a custom, phrase, or use of language that acts as a test of belonging to, or as a stumbling block to becoming a member of, a particular social class, profession, etc[C14: from Hebrew, literally: ear of grain; the word is used in the Old Testament by the Gileadites as a test word for the Ephraimites, who could not pronounce the sound sh]

shib•bo•leth

(ˈʃɪb ə lɪθ, -ˌlɛθ)

n. 1. a peculiarity of pronunciation, usage, or behavior that distinguishes a particular group. 2. a slogan; catchword. 3. a common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth. [< Hebrew shibbōleth literally, 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)]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	shibboleth - a favorite saying of a sect or political groupcatchword, motto, sloganlocution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression"catch phrase, catchphrase - a phrase that has become a catchwordmantra - a commonly repeated word or phrase; "she repeated `So pleased with how its going' at intervals like a mantra"rallying cry, war cry, watchword, battle cry, cry - a slogan used to rally support for a cause; "a cry to arms"; "our watchword will be `democracy'"
	2.	shibboleth - a manner of speaking that is distinctive of a particular group of peoplemanner of speaking, delivery, speech - your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally; "his manner of speaking was quite abrupt"; "her speech was barren of southernisms"; "I detected a slight accent in his speech"

Translations