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Glite Dictionary
yarmulke

yarmulke

13 9.0
A small round cap that Jewish men wear on their head, often during prayer
  • noun
  • /ˈjɑrməˌkə/
: kipá
  • During the religious ceremony, all the men wore a yarmulke to show their respect.
  • wear a yarmulke

If someone puts out a yarmulke and to fill in and they go to shul, they're not Jewish, right?

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Examples

  • He'll be the first one in synagogue, sitting in the front row in a yarmulke.

    Deconstructing Harry (1997)

  • Leo takes off his yarmulke and fiddles with it uncomfortably.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Does anybody know what a yarmulke is?

    Stolen Summer (2002)

  • Oh, my yarmulke fell off!

    Wedding Crashers (2005)

  • Will you at least wear a yarmulke?

    I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)

  • Is there a yarmulke on Ron's head?

    BlacKkKlansman (2018)

  • It looks like a yellow yarmulke.

    Odd Thomas (2013)

  • Most are in open shirts; their knitted yarmulkes bob in a dozen colors.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • "All right, then." Rabbi Fink pulled an embroidered yarmulke out of his pocket and clapped it on his head.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Ed is wearing a peach satin yarmulke with "Bat Mitzvah of Katie Passachoff" printed on the inside in gold.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

skullcap
vsyarmulke
3 7.6

A small round cap that fits the top of the head and has no brim, often worn for religious reasons

is specifically the Jewish small round cap worn during prayer and ceremonies
yarmulka
vsyarmulke
  • US
1 9.9

A small round cap that religious Jewish men wear during prayer as a sign of respect

is the traditional small round cap worn especially for prayer and ceremonies
yarmelke
vsyarmulke
  • US
9.9

A small round cap that Jewish men wear during prayer or religious events

is the traditional small round cap worn especially at prayer and ceremonies

Surface Forms

yarmulke singular
yarmulkes plural

Etymology

Yarmulke comes from Yiddish and Polish words like yarmelke and jarmułka that mean 'cap', so it names the small round skullcap men wear for prayer. A helpful way to remember it is the popular Hebrew phrase yira malka meaning 'fear of the king' or 'respect for God', which fits because the cap is worn as a sign of respect.