סַנְטֵר (santar) — chin

Etymology

The word סַנְטֵר appears exactly once in all of Talmudic literature, in a description by Rabbi Hanina bar Hama of how his teacher Rabbi Yehuda ha-Nasi conducted himself during prayer: "I saw Rabbi who belched and yawned and spat and adjusted his garment in his prayer, but he did not wrap himself and did not place his hand on his santar" (Berakhot 24a–b). Because the word appears only here and nowhere else in the Semitic language family, its meaning was debated by medieval commentators.

Two competing interpretations emerged. Rabbi Nathan of Rome, in his comprehensive dictionary Ha-Arukh, argued that santar is the Aramaic word for "side" (satar) with an added nun — meaning Rabbi placed his hands on his flanks or hips, a gesture of pride. This interpretation was endorsed by Maimonides and other major authorities. Rashi, by contrast, understood santar as the protrusion at the bottom of the face — the chin — meaning Rabbi covered his mouth with his hand. Modern Hebrew followed Rashi's interpretation and uses סנטר for chin.

Whether Rashi was right remains unknown. Those who support his definition connect santar to the Greek ἀνθέρεών (anthereon), the ancient Greek word for chin. But this proposed etymology is phonetically difficult: where does the initial sin come from, and where did the final -on go? The question has no established answer.

The word is discussed in the same column that covers the four bodily-function words (עיטוש, פיהוק, גיהוק, שיהוק) — all derived from the same Talmudic passage about Rabbi at prayer.

Key Quotes

"אני ראיתי את רבי... אבל לא היה מניח ידו על סנטרו" — Rabbi Hanina bar Hama, Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 24a–b

Timeline

• 3rd century CE: Rabbi Hanina bar Hama uses the word סנטר in describing Rabbi's prayer posture
• ~500 CE: The Babylonian Talmud compiled; the passage is recorded
• 1100–1106: Rabbi Nathan of Rome in Ha-Arukh defines santar as "side/flank"
• 1040–1105: Rashi defines santar as the chin
• Modern Hebrew: adopts Rashi's definition

Related Words

• עיטוש — sneeze; from the same Talmudic passage
• פיהוק — yawn; from the same Talmudic passage
• גיהוק — belch; from the same Talmudic passage
• שיהוק — hiccup; revived based on related Arabic root