shibboleth
/ˈʃɪbəleθ/
a word used to detect outsiders by how they pronounce it
shibboleth in a sentence
“Mispronouncing the framework's name was a shibboleth that outed the pretender at once.”
Origin of shibboleth
Hebrew shibbolet ear of grain — a fatal password in the Book of Judges
Related Words
anathema
a formal curse of banishment; a thing utterly abhorred
malediction
a spoken curse
benediction
a spoken blessing
gospel
teaching held as unquestionably true; originally `good news`
true name
in myth, the secret name that grants power over its bearer
incantation
a formula of words spoken or chanted to produce a magical effect