yarmulke

Alternative forms

• (rhotic variants) yarmulke, yarmulka, yarmelke, yarmelka, yarmalke, yarmalka, yermulke
• (nonrhotic variants) yamulke, yamulka, yamelke, yamelka, yamalke, yamalka, yamuka

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish יאַרמלקע‎ (yarmlke), from Polish jarmułka (“skullcap”) or a Ukrainian cognate of the same. This is probably from the Turkish yağmurluk (“rainwear”), though it could also be from Medieval Latin almutia (“hood, cowl”). The term has been attested since 1903.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈjɑːməlkə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈjɑ(ɹ)mə(l)kə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Yarmulkes

yarmulke (plural yarmulkes)

1. A skullcap worn by religious Jewish males (especially during prayer).
   • 2007, Patricia Cohen, "The Frozen Dozen", New York Times, April 29,

     But once Dr. Levenson, who works for the Indian Health Service and wears a colorful tapestry yarmulke, has alerted the tiny network, it almost seems as if we have stepped into Yiddishland.

References

• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 10th Edition (1997)
  
• “yarmulke” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.