milah

Etymology
Romanization of מילה (Hebrew for cut)

Noun

 * 1) the first step in the bris, where the akroposthion is excised (later followed by periah, then posthetomy, then metzitza)
 * 2) * 1892, Yearbook of the Central Conference of American Rabbis page 16
 * Milah is ordained in the Bible
 * 1) * 1980, Abraham P. Bloch, The Biblical and Historical Background of Jewish Customs and Ceremonies, page 12
 * The milah (the cutting off of the end of the upper prepuce) is then performed. In medieval Ashkenazic communities it was customary to place the removed prepuce in a container of sand.
 * 1) * 1987, Joseph Guttmann, The Jewish Life Cycle, page 4
 * Originally in biblical times berit milah may simply have consisted of cutting the Corlah (foreskin) with a flint knife (Exodus 4:25 and Joshua 5 : 2). The rabbis of the talmudic period perhaps added peri`ah (the tearing of the genital mucous membrane and laying bare the glans)
 * 1) cutting
 * 1) cutting

Derived terms

 * bris milah
 * brit milah