phylactery

noun

phy·​lac·​tery fə-ˈlak-t(ə-)rē 

plural phylacteries

1

: either of two small square leather boxes containing slips inscribed with scriptural passages and traditionally worn on the left arm and on the head by observant Jewish men and especially adherents of Orthodox Judaism during morning weekday prayers

2

: amulet

Illustration of phylactery

• phylactery 1

Synonyms

• amulet
• charm
• fetish
• fetich
• mascot
• mojo
• periapt
• talisman

Examples of phylactery in a Sentence

he wore a small phylactery on a cord around his neck

Recent Examples on the Web

Popular images of Jewish men worshiping at the wall in prayer shawls and phylacteries show only a small stretch of the ancient retaining wall for the Temple Mount. —David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2017

Beit El’s other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry. —Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English filaterie, philacterie, borrowed from Late Latin filactērium, phylactērium "amulet, tefellin," borrowed from Greek phylaktḗrion "guarded place, outpost, safeguard, amulet, tefellin," from phylaktḗr "guard, guardian" (from phylak-, stem of phylássein "to keep watch on, guard, preserve" —derivative of phylak-, phýlax "guard, guardian, protector," of obscure origin— + -tēr, agent suffix) + -ion, noun suffix

Note: Greek phýlax has no generally accepted Indo-European etymology, and is probably of pre-Greek substratal origin, as other words with the suffix -ak-, according to R. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2010.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

phylactery

noun

phy·​lac·​tery fə-ˈlak-t(ə-)rē 

plural phylacteries

1

: either of two small square leather boxes containing scripture passages on slips of paper that are traditionally worn on the left arm and the head by Jewish men during morning prayers

2

: amulet