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also yar·mel·ke  (yär′məl-kə, yä′məl-)
A skullcap worn by Jewish men and boys, especially those adhering to Orthodox or Conservative Judaism. Also called kippah.

[Yiddish, from Polish, yarmul̷ka and Ukrainian yarmulka, from Turkish yağmurluk, rain clothing, from yağmur, rain, from Old Turkic, from yağmaq, to rain.]


(Judaism) Judaism a skullcap worn by orthodox male Jews at all times, and by others during prayer
[from Yiddish, from Ukrainian and Polish yarmulka cap, probably from Turkish yaǧmurluk raincoat, from yaǧmur rain]


or yar•mel•ke

(ˈyɑr məl kə, -mə-, ˈyɑ-)

n., pl. -kes.
a skullcap worn by Jewish Orthodox or Conservative males, esp. during meals, prayer, and religious study.
[1940–45; < Yiddish yarmlke < Polish jarmułka (earlier jałmurka, jamułka) or Ukrainian yarmúlka < Turkic; compare Turkish yağmurluk rain apparel =yağmur rain + -luk]


A skullcap worn by Jewish men and boys.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.yarmulke - a skullcap worn by religious Jews (especially at prayer)yarmulke - a skullcap worn by religious Jews (especially at prayer)
skullcap - rounded brimless cap fitting the crown of the head


nJarmulke f, → Gebetskäppchen nt
References in periodicals archive ?
There have been several cases in the United States involving head coverings worn by Orthodox Jews, such as kippahs (also known as yarmulkas) for men and headscarfs for women.
As part of the program to erode differences among Jews and Christians, the state also sought to tax the wearing of yarmulkas, to forbid men from wearing sidelocks and women from shaving their heads upon marriage, and in general to discourage the wearing of distinctive religious clothing.
The night after Passover I saw a group of young people wearing Yarmulkas sitting in a circle in Tel-Aviv's central Magen David place, singing and playing guitar.