Plural of dreidel; small four-sided spinning tops used in Jewish games during Hanukkah, each side marked with a Hebrew letter.
From Yiddish 'dreidel,' from German 'Dreh' meaning 'to turn' plus the diminutive suffix '-el.' The word entered English through Jewish communities in America and Europe.
The dreidel is a perfect example of how immigration and cultural tradition create permanent additions to English—American children who aren't Jewish still might play with a dreidel because the word and toy became part of American culture during the 20th century.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.