Phylactery
WordNet
noun
(1) (Judaism) either of two small leather cases containing texts from the Hebrew Scriptures (known collectively as tefillin); traditionally worn (on the forehead and the left arm) by Jewish men during morning prayer
WiktionaryText
Etymology
Recorded since c.1380, , philaterie, either from filatiere (12c.), or via philaterium, an alteration of phylacterium ("reliquary"), from (phylacterion) ("safeguard, amulet"), via adjective phylakterios ("serving as a protection") from phylakter ("watcher, guard"), itself from phylassein ("to guard or ward off") from phylax ("a guard").
Noun
- Any small object worn for its magical or supernatural power; an amulet or charm.
- 2006, Don Skemer, Binding Words Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages. Penn State Press, 2006. p. 136n:http://books.google.com/books?id=o-5VpyGAHSgC&pg=PA136&lpg=PA136&dq=phylactery+flemish&source=web&ots=5KqLz4kA0W&sig=s0Z66YfpuEyrKr72Ffu3fAEq7ns
- "According to the decreta issued by the archbishop of Utrecht in 1372-75, the word phylactery pertained either to amulets on separate sheets or to entire books."
- 2006, Don Skemer, Binding Words Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages. Penn State Press, 2006. p. 136n:http://books.google.com/books?id=o-5VpyGAHSgC&pg=PA136&lpg=PA136&dq=phylactery+flemish&source=web&ots=5KqLz4kA0W&sig=s0Z66YfpuEyrKr72Ffu3fAEq7ns
- The small leather case, containing biblical scrolls, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer; the tefilla.
- 2005, Edward Mack, Phylactery, Nextbible.http://net.bible.org/dictionary.php?word=Phylactery
- "Every male, who at the age of 13 becomes a "son of the Law" (bar mitswah), must wear the phylactery and perform the accompanying ceremonial."
- 2005, Edward Mack, Phylactery, Nextbible.http://net.bible.org/dictionary.php?word=Phylactery