of or relating to the Jews of Germany and E Europe
2.
a Jew of German or E European descent
3.
the pronunciation of Hebrew used by these Jews
Compare Sephardi
Word origin
C19: Late Hebrew, from Hebrew Ashkenaz, the son of Gomer (Genesis 10:3; I Chronicles 1:6), a descendant of Noah through Japheth,and hence taken to be identified with the ancient Ascanians of Phrygia and, in themedieval period, the Germans
Ashkenazim in American English
(ˌɑːʃkəˈnɑːzɪm)
plural nounWord forms: singular-nazi (-ˈnɑːzi)
Jews of central and eastern Europe, or their descendants, distinguished from the Sephardim chiefly by their liturgy, religious customs, and pronunciation of Hebrew
Derived forms
Ashkenazic
adjective
Word origin
[1830–40; ‹ post-Biblical Heb ashkənazzīm, pl. of ashkənazzī, equiv. to ashkənazashkenaz + -ī suffix of appurtenance]This word is first recorded in the period 1830–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: ante, grid, isomerism, paraffin, rococo