Shabbas goy

noun

variants or Shabbos goy
: a non-Jew employed by Orthodox Jews to perform services (such as turning lights on and off) which are forbidden to Jews on the Sabbath

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish shabes goy, from shabes Sabbath + goy gentile, from Hebrew gōy people, nation

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Dictionary Entries Near Shabbas goy

Cite this Entry

“Shabbas goy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Shabbas%20goy. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

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