Standard Lemma guide

sheitel

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈʃaɪtəl/
  • /ˈʃeɪtəl/
  • rhymes with -aɪtəl
  • rhymes with -eɪtəl

1

noun

Meaning 1

A wig worn by married Orthodox Jewish women.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Judaism

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A wig (of any kind).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Polari

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Yiddish שייטל (sheytl), cognate to German Scheitel (“parting”).

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hebrew: פֵּאָה (pe'á) — wig worn by married orthodox Jewish women
  • Polish: szajtł — wig worn by married orthodox Jewish women
  • Yiddish: שייטל (sheytl) — wig worn by married orthodox Jewish women