חֲנִיכָה, (חָנַךְ) [rubbing the infant’s palate with a chewed fig, v. Fl. to Levy Talm. Dict. II, 206,] the name given to the child by the person rubbing is palate; in gen. surname. Gitt. IX, 8 כתב חֲנִיכָתוֹ וחֲנִיכָתָהּ if in the letter of divorce his and her family names are written. Ib. 88ᵃ הֲנִיכַת אבות the surname of ancestors. Taan. 20ᵇ; Meg. 28ᵃ I never called my neighbor בחֲנִיכָתִי וא"ל בחֲנִיכָתוֹ (Ar.) by an opprobrious surname given him by myself or, as others relate, by his by-name (which others had given him); ed.: בהכינתו וא"ל בחניכתו by his ḥăkhina (v. הֲכִינָה); some say, (Rab Ada used the expression)ḥăkhina. M. Kat. 25ᵇ בעת חֲנִיכָתוֹ אבד חַנִּיכוֹ (Ms. M. 2) at the time when he was to receive his name (when his palate was rubbed) died he who was to rear him (his father); (ed., v. חֲנִינָה II). Gen. R. s. 43, beg. (expl. חניכיו, Gen. XIV, 14) בעלי חֲנִיכָתוֹ וכ׳ those bearing his name, their name being Abram, like his own.