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Shibboleth

//ˈʃɪbəlɛθ// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A particular pronunciation or custom that is regarded as distinguishing members of a group from non-members, especially when used as a test.

    "In recent times, the correct treatment of initial h in speech has come to be regarded as a kind of shibboleth of social position."

  2. 2
    a manner of speaking that is distinctive of a particular group of people wordnet
  3. 3
    A common or longstanding belief, custom, or catchphrase associated with a particular group, especially one with little current meaning or truth.

    "It's about time we abandoned the bourgeois shibboleth that earning money makes you a better person."

  4. 4
    a favorite saying of a group, organization or individual wordnet

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Biblical Hebrew שִׁבֹּלֶת /שיבולת (šibbṓleṯ, “ear [of wheat] or stream, torrent”). Doublet of sebboleth and Middle English sebolech, both from Late Latin sebboleth in the Vulgate.

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