Moshav
/moʊˈʃɑːv/noun
A cooperative rural settlement in Israel in which individual families generally own or work their own farms while sharing certain services.
Did you know?Moshav comes from the same Hebrew root as yeshiva, linking a rural settlement with the ancient concept of people gathering—or literally “sitting”—in one place.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*y-š-b
“To sit, remain, dwell, or settle”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
yāšav (יָשַׁב)
“To sit, live, remain, or inhabit”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
mōshāv (מוֹשָׁב)
“A dwelling place, settlement, seat, or inhabited location”
19th–20th Century
Modern Hebrew
moshav (מוֹשָׁב)
“A cooperative agricultural village, especially in the Zionist settlement movement”
20th Century
English
moshav
“An Israeli cooperative rural settlement”