tallit

/ taˈliːt; ˈtælɪθ /

noun

1. a white shawl with fringed corners worn over the head and shoulders by Jewish males during religious services
2. a smaller form of this worn under the outer garment during waking hours by some Jewish males

Word History and Origins

Origin of tallit¹

C17: from Hebrew tallīt

Example Sentences

Early on in Nathan Silver’s “Between the Temples,” Ben Gottlieb, a 40-ish widower played by Jason Schwartzman, walks into a bar in his tallit and skullcap with the intention of getting plastered.

From New York Times

KYIV, Ukraine — It was a striking image: a bearded rabbi with a flak jacket over his tallit, hitting the ground to take cover as shells boomed around him.

From New York Times

Grandma stares at the prayer shawl—Rabbi Gold told me it’s called a tallit—draped over the back of the swivel chair.

From Literature

I wrap my tallit around my shoulders and put on my favorite kippah—the one with the logo of the Denver Broncos.

From Literature

But some shoppers are fed up: “There’s a Santa on Wayfair wearing a tallit,” Ms. Herman said, referring to a Jewish prayer shawl.

From New York Times