Jastrow: שִׁיר II

שִׁיר II m. (b. h.; שרר) [chain, string; cmp. חָרַז,] verse, song, poetry, music. Tam. V, 6 שאחיו … לדבר בש׳ that his brother Levites were assembling to sing in chorus. Ib. VII, 4 הש׳ שהיו הלוים וכ׳ these are the psalms that the Levites recited severally on each day; a. fr.—R. Hash. 28ᵃ התוקע לש׳ he who blows the Shofar (on the New Year’s Day) as a musical exercise (Ms. M. לשֵׁד to drive off a demon); ib. 33ᵇ (Ms. M. לשֵׁיד).—כלי ש׳ musical instruments (used in the Temple during the offering of sacrifices). Taan. IV (III), 3; a. e.—Pl. שִׁירִים, שִׁירִין. Cant. R. to I, 1 דוד אמר ש׳ ושלמה אמר ש׳ David composed songs, and so did Solomon. Ib. end (expl. שיר השירים) המעולה שבש׳; המסולסל שבש׳, v. סִלְסֵל. Ib. נאמר ש׳ ונשבח למי שעשאנו ש׳ בעולם let us recite songs and praise to him who has made us to be songs (proclaimers of God’s praise) in the world; נאמר ש׳ … שיורים לעולם let us recite songs to him who made us remnants (has preserved us) for the world; a. fr.—שיר הש׳ the Book of Song of Songs (Canticum). Ib.; B. Bath. 14ᵇ; a. fr.