Chanukiah

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A ninth-branched candelabrum lit during the eight nights of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle of the oil
2. A Jewish candle holder with eight main branches plus a helper branch, used to kindle lights on each night of the Hanukkah festival
3. The special menorah of nine lamps that Jewish families light during Hanukkah, with one flame used to light the others each evening

Etymology: The Hebrew "ḥănukkiyyāh" is built from "ḥănukkāh," meaning "dedication," which comes from a root meaning to dedicate. The festival of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt, traditionally dated to around 164 BCE. The lamp takes its name from the festival, so the object is literally "the thing of the dedication." It is easy to confuse this lamp with the seven-branched menorah that stood in the ancient Temple. That object has its own Hebrew name, "menorah," meaning simply "lampstand." The Hanukkah lamp has eight branches for the nights of the festival, plus a ninth, the "shamash" or helper candle, used to light the others. Its distinct form developed in later centuries, which is why its name points to the festival rather than to the older lampstand.

Synonyms: hanukkiah, Hanukkah lamp