Jastrow: מְזוּזָה

מְזוּזָה f. (b. h.; זוז = זוזו; cmp. זָוָוא) [coupling, set,] door-frame, esp. door-post. Kidd. 22ᵇ (ref. to Ex. XXI, 6) דלת ומ׳ שהיו עידי וכ׳ door and post were my witnesses in Egypt (ib. XII, 23) when I passed … and said, my servants are the sons of Israel and not servants of servants &c. Ib. מה מ׳ מעומד וכ׳ as m’zuzah is used only of what is in a standing position, so is here deleth meant of the door in its position. Men. 34ᵃ למ׳ אחת where there is only one door-post; a. e.—Pl. מְזוּזוֹת. Mekh. Bo. s. 11; a. e.—Esp. m’zuzah (Deut. VI, 9; XI, 20) the inscription on the door-post (a slip of parchment containing Deut. VI, 4—9, a. XI, 13—21). Pes. 4ᵃ מ׳ חובת הדר וכ׳ to fasten the m. at the door is the tenant’s duty (not the owner’s). Men. 44ᵃ פטור מן המ׳ requires no m. Ib. כל שאין לו מ׳ בפתחו he who has no m. at his door. Ib. 34ᵃ חייב במ׳ אחת is bound to have one m. at the door; a. v. fr.—Y. Meg. IV, 75ᶜ bot. בית מְזוּזָתוֹ של ר׳ the case of the m. in the house of Rabbi.—Yoma 11ᵃ מְזוּזַת יחיד the m. in a private house.—Pl. as ab. Men. l. c. חייב בשתי מ׳ must have two door-post inscriptions; Yoma l. c.; a. fr.