passover Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (Judaism) a Jewish festival (traditionally 8 days from Nissan 15) celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt
    Pesach; Feast of the Unleavened Bread; Pesah.

WordNet

Pass"o`ver noun
Etymology
Pass + over. See Pasch.
Definitions
  1. (Jewish Antiq.) (a) A feast of the Jews, instituted to commemorate the sparing of the Hebrews in Egypt, when God, smiting the firstborn of the Egyptians, passed over the houses of the Israelites which were marked with the blood of a lamb. (b) The sacrifice offered at the feast of the passover; the paschal lamb. Ex. xii.

Webster 1913