Jastrow: שָׁחוֹר

שָׁחוֹר, שְׁחוֹרָה f. (b. h.; שָׁחַר II) charred, black; charred or black thing. Par. III, 11 ש׳ שיש בו אפר a charred piece (of the red cow) which is easily pulverized. Keth. 36ᵃ, a. e. עד שירבה ש׳ וכ׳ until the black prevails over the white (until the hair in the hair-covered parts of the body seems to prevail over the bare spots). Gitt. 19ᵃ כתבו באבר בש׳ וכ׳ if one wrote a letter of divorce with lead, with a black pigment (dry ink), or with coal; Sabb. 104ᵇ. Lev. R. s. 31 אין אדם … מתוך הש׳ man does not see through the white of the eye, but through the black. Cant. R. to I, 5 ש׳ אני במעשי וכ׳ I am black (soiled) through my own deeds, but beautiful &c., v. נָאוֶה. Ib. ש׳ אני במצרים I was black (despised) in Egypt. Ib. ש׳ אני כל ימות וכ׳ I am black (with sins) all the days of the year, but beautiful on the Day of Atonement; a. fr.—Pl. שְׁחוֹרִים, שְׁחוֹרִין; שְׁחוֹרוֹת. Ned. III, 8 הנודר משְׁחוֹרֵי הראש וכ׳ if one forswears benefits from ‘black-headed people’, he is forbidden &c.; שאין נקראין ש׳ הראש וכ׳ by ‘black-headed’ are understood grown up men generally (without regard to the condition of their hair). Gen. R. s. 59, beg. ר׳ מאיר … שחורי ראש R. M. came to Mamle where he saw none but black-haired people (no aged among them). Cant. R. to V, 11 (ref. to שְׁחֹרוֹת ib.) אלו ת"ח … כעורין וש׳ וכ׳ this refers to the students: although they appear ungainly and black in this world &c.; ib. אלו תלמודות … כעורות וש׳ וכ׳ this refers to such texts of the Law as appear too ugly and black (referring to unæsthetic subjects) to speak of them in public, but the Lord says, they are pleasing &c.; Lev. R. s. 19; a. fr.