shibboleth

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a favorite saying of a sect or political group
  2. noun a manner of speaking that is distinctive of a particular group of people

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Biblical Hebrew שִׁבֹּלֶת /שיבולת (šibbṓleṯ, “ear [of wheat] or stream, torrent”). Doublet of sebboleth and Middle English sebolech, both from Late Latin sebboleth in the Vulgate.

In classic literature

Synonyms

motto, slogan, catchword

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