etrog, n.1
(ˈɛtrɒg)
Also † æthrog, esrog, ethrog, and with capital initial. Pl. -s, ‖ -im.
[a. Heb. eṯrōg̱ citron.]
a. A citron, the fruit of the tree Citrus medica, used ritually by the Jews in the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth); the tree itself.
| 1874 A. Edersheim Temple: its Ministry & Services xiv. 238 The Rabbis ruled, that ‘the fruit of the goodly trees’ meant the æthrog... The æthrogs must be without blemish. 1903 Jewish Encycl. V. 262/2 (caption) Silver box for etrog. 1941 Universal Jewish Encycl. IV. 186/2 Many Jews import ethrogs from Palestine for use at Sukkoth. 1962 New Jewish Encycl. 136 One of the many traditions as to which was the fruit whose eating was forbidden in the Garden of Eden holds that it was the Etrog. 1973 Synagogue Light Sept. 50/1 Thousands of branches from the olive trees, Hadassim and Esrogim were used as coverings. 1988 Jerusalem Post 7 Oct. (‘In Jerusalem’ Suppl.) 16/5 The post-prayer lull was tempestuous as young boys scurried around collecting abandoned etrogs to take home for mom to make into jam. |
b. attrib., esp. as etrog box.
| 1938 Hyamson & Silberman Vallentine's Jewish Encycl. 215/1 (caption) Artistic ethrog cases. 1941 Universal Jewish Encycl. IV. 186/2 There are also elaborate ethrog boxes of silver. 1957 Encycl. Brit. V. 728a/1 The fruit of the Etrog citron is used only for ceremonial purposes in religious rites of the Hebrew people. 1975 New Yorker 17 Nov. 44/3 Reb Bendit..had brought the rabbi an ivory ethrog box that was decorated with silver and embossed in gold. 1981 Washington Post 26 June (Weekend section) 5 (caption) A 19th-century silver etrog container. |