circumcision
/səːkəmˈsɪʒ(ə)n
/noun
1 [mass noun] The action or practice of circumcising a young boy or man.Ever since Abraham, circumcision was the way Jews marked their covenant with God....
- Brit Milah, or circumcision, is performed on a Jewish male eight days after he is born.
- In the past, young boys underwent ritual circumcision at a relatively late age.
2 [mass noun] The action or practice of circumcising a girl or young woman; female circumcision.Both songs are traditionally sung by girls during circumcision....
- Her father, who died five years ago, also decided that the local practice of circumcision was not for his girls.
- 'By the end of that year, it appeared that we had reduced the circumcision of girls by 36 percent,' he added.
3 (Circumcision) (In church use) the feast of the Circumcision of Christ, 1 January.New Years is still observed as the Feast of Christ's Circumcision by some denominations....
- Most secular celebrations also are tied to religious holidays, like Christmas or New Year's (the Circumcision of Jesus).
Origin
Middle English: from late Latin circumcisio(n-), from the verb circumcidere (see circumcise).