megillah

English

Alternative forms

• megilla
• Megillah, Megilla

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /məˈɡɪlə/

Etymology 1

From Hebrew מגילה / מְגִלָּה (m'gilá, “scroll”). Doublet of magilla.

Noun

megillah (plural megillahs or megillot or megilloth)

1. (Judaism) any of the Five Scrolls of the Hebrew Scriptures (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther)
   • 1996, Macy Nulman, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer, page 305:

     Song of Songs, one of the five Megillot ("Scrolls") of Ketuvim ("Writings") recited either before or after Minhah on the eve of every Sabbath, after the Seder on Passover, and publicly in the synagogue in the Ashkenazic tradition.

2. (Judaism, specifically) the Book of Esther

Etymology 2

See the entry at magilla.

Noun

megillah (plural megillahs)

1. Alternative form of magilla
   • 2024, Jeremy B. Rudd, A Practical Guide to Macroeconomics, p. 229

     Actually, a monetary policy maker would probably be okay with the whole “improved credibility” megillah, since it flatters their self-image.