hamsa

Definition

The Hand of Fatima.

Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew חַמְסָה (khámsa), from Arabic خَمْسَة (ḵamsa, “five”), used among Jews of Arabic origin for the fingers on the hand.

Example Sentences

• "Reverence for the amulets cuts across religious boundaries. Jews come for Kabbalistic bracelets, glass hamsas or strings of ceramic pomegranates."
• "Variously associated with qualities ranging from warding off evil to promoting fertility, the open hand of the hamsa is thought to have originated in Mesopotamia and is recognized the world over."