Sabbat
/ˈsæb.æt/noun
A witches' sabbath or nocturnal gathering associated in folklore with witchcraft.
Did you know?The modern witch-sabbath idea was heavily shaped by medieval and early modern Christian demonology, which fused older folklore with the name of the Jewish Sabbath, turning a sacred day into a sinister accusation.
Etymological Timeline
Hebrew Bible
Heb
šabbāt
“A day of rest, the Sabbath.”
Late Latin
Lat
sabbatum
“The Sabbath.”
Old French
OF
sabat
“The Sabbath; later, in folklore, a witches' assembly.”
Middle English
ME
sabat
“A witches' sabbath or nocturnal witch gathering.”
Modern English
Eng
sabbat
“A witches' sabbath, especially in occult or historical contexts.”