Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
balebos. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
balebos, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
balebos in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
balebos you have here. The definition of the word
balebos will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
balebos, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Yiddish בעל־הבית (balebos), from Hebrew בַּעַל הַבַּיִת (bá'al habáyit, “master of the house”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /bɑːləˈbʌs/, /bɑːləˈbɒs/, /bɑːləˈbɔs/
Noun
balebos (plural balebatim)
- (Judaism) Master of the house, head of the household, host.
- (Judaism) House owner, homeowner.
- (Judaism, by extension) Boss, person in charge (of anything).
- (Judaism) Important man, bourgeoisie.
2008, Joseph Margoshes, “Reb Vovtshi's Kloyz”, in A World Apart: A Memoir of Jewish Life in Nineteenth Century Galicia, →ISBN, page 51:An annual custom that lasted for many years involved a celebration of the eight days of Chanukah for all of the balebatim. Every evening was hosted by a different balebos and there was a lavish feast.
- (Judaism) Layman, congregant, non-clergy.
1996, Jonathan Boyarin, “My Trip to Israel, Continued”, in Palestine and Jewish History: Criticism at the Borders of Ethnography, →ISBN, page 153:The rabbi, whom I met and then overheard at a kiddush after shul, was going over his sermon with some of the balebatim, […] .