Phylacteries

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Phylactery \Phy*lac"ter*y\, n.; pl. {Phylacteries}. [OE.
     filateri, OF. filatire, filatiere, F. phylact[`e]re, L.
     phylacterium, Gr. fylakth`rion, fr. fylakth`r a watcher,
     guard, fyla`ssein to watch, guard. Cf. {Philatory}.]
     1. Any charm or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or
        disease.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A small square box, made either of parchment or of black
        calfskin, containing slips of parchment or vellum on which
        are written the scriptural passages Exodus xiii. 2-10, and
        11-17, Deut. vi. 4-9, 13-22. They are worn by Jews on the
        head and left arm, on week-day mornings, during the time
        of prayer. --Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Among the primitive Christians, a case in which the relics
        of the dead were inclosed.
        [1913 Webster]

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Phylacteries
     (Gr. phulakteria; i.e., "defences" or "protections"), called by
     modern Jews tephillin (i.e., "prayers") are mentioned only in
     Matt. 23:5. They consisted of strips of parchment on which were
     inscribed these four texts: (1.) Ex. 13:1-10; (2.) 11-16; (3.)
     Deut. 6:4-9; (4.) 11:18-21, and which were enclosed in a square
     leather case, on one side of which was inscribed the Hebrew
     letter shin, to which the rabbis attached some significance.
     This case was fastened by certain straps to the forehead just
     between the eyes. The "making broad the phylacteries" refers to
     the enlarging of the case so as to make it conspicuous. (See {FRONTLETS}.)
     
       Another form of the phylactery consisted of two rolls of
     parchment, on which the same texts were written, enclosed in a
     case of black calfskin. This was worn on the left arm near the
     elbow, to which it was bound by a thong. It was called the
     "Tephillah on the arm."
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Phylacteries, things to be especially observed