שֶׁמֶץ m. (b. h.; Shaf. of מצץ, מוץ, מצה; v. Targ. Job IV , 12; XXVI, 14) [chaff,] 1) particle, atom. Sabb. 119ᵇ אפי׳ יש בו ש׳ של ע"א וכ׳ even if there be some idolatry in him, he will be forgiven. —2) (cmp. מוּם) blemish, suspicion. Kidd. 71ᵇ אם ראית … ש׳ פסול וכ׳ when thou seest two men quarrel with each other, there is some blemish of descent in one of them, and heaven does not allow them to become attached to each other. Pes. 3ᵇ ומצאו בו ש׳ פסול and they found in him a blemish of descent, contrad. to שחץ (v. שַׁחַץ I); Meg. 25ᵇ (Treat. Sof’rim ch. IX, 11 ונמצא ממזר); a. e.