Jastrow: מַחְתֶּרֶת

מַחְתֶּרֶת f. (b. h.; חָתַר) breaking in, breach. Snh. VIII, 6 הבא במ׳ נידון וכ׳ he who breaks in is judged (allowed to be killed with impunity) on account of what he will do. Ib. 72ᵃ; Yoma 85ᵇ מאי טעמא דמ׳ what is the reason of the law allowing to kill one breaking in (Ex. XXII, 1)?—Snh. 72ᵇ אין לי אלא מ׳ גגו וכ׳ the text speaks only of breaking in, whence can it be proven that the thief found on one’s roof &c. may be killed?—Ib. מַחְתַּרְתּוֹ זו וכ׳ his breaking in serves the place of forewarning (he knew what he might expect). Ib. 103ᵃ (ref. to ויחתר, II Chr. XXXIII, 13, v. S. Baer, Liber Chron., p. 126, a. Rabb. D. S. to Snh. l. c. note 200) עשה לו הק"בה כמין מ׳ וכ׳ the Lord made for him an opening in the heaven to receive him &c.; (Pesik. Shub., p. 162ᵇ חֲתִירָה). Midr. Till. to Ps. CXVIII, מה מצא … מן המ׳ what has he found in our possession (taken) from the place we broke into? Ib. המ׳ זו העיר the place broken into is the City (of Jerusalem); a. e.