Jastrow: שִׁית II

שִׁית II m. (שָׁתַת II) foundation; (cmp. יְסוֹד) bottom, esp. Shith, a pit by the side of the altar into which the remainder of libations was poured. Midd. III, 3 שבו יורדין לש׳ וכ׳ by which men went down the Sh. to cleanse it. Tosef. Succ. III, 15 יורדין לש׳ וכ׳ the wine goes down into the pit and is swallowed up there. Ib. (ref. to וגם יקב, Is. V, 2) זה הש׳ this refers to the Sh.; Y. ib. IV, 54ᵈ top; Bab. ib. 49ᵃ השִׁיתִּין (pl.).—Pl. שִׁיתִּין. Ib. ש׳ מששת ימי וכ׳ the Shittin have existed from the six days of creation (are a natural cavity). Ib. 53ᵃ בשעה שכרה דוד ש׳ when David began to dig the pits (for the Temple); Macc. 11ᵃ; Yalk. Ps. 878 שִׁתִּין. Meïl. III, 3 (11ᵃ) (ירדו) יצאו לש׳ וכ׳ so soon as the wine is let down into the pits &c. Yalk. Ps. 653, v. פָּגַר.