Where does “shammes” come from?

shammes (English) comes from Yiddish שמשׂ, from Hebrew שמש, from Proto-Semitic śamš- — the Sun.

shammes (English): A sexton in a synagogue; The candle used to light...

Definitions

  1. A sexton in a synagogue; The candle used to light...

Ancestry of “shammes”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Yiddishשמשׂsexton, synagogue caretaker; candle used to light...
2Hebrewשמשsun; servant; sexton
3Proto-Semiticśamš-the Sun
Every word from Proto-Semitic śamš-Every word from Hebrew שמשEvery word from Yiddish שמשׂ