שַׁמְתָּא, שַׁמְּתָא, שַׁמַּתָּא f. (preced.) [desolation,] 1) curse, ban. Targ. Y. Gen. XLII, 37. Targ. Y. Num. XXI, 24. Targ. Cant. II, 16.—M. Kat. 17ᵃ מאי ש׳ what is (the etymology of) shamta? Rab said שׁם̇ מ̇ית̇ה there is death; Samuel said, שְׁמָמָה יהיה (Ms. M. שַׁמָּה; Ar. שם תהא, read: שמה תהא) he shall be (be thou) a desolation. Ib. ליהוי האי גברא בש׳ that man (thou) be excommunicated. Ib. 16ᵃ לא חל ש׳ עליה וכ׳ (masc.) the ban has not yet rested on him thirty days. Ib. עד דחיילא ש׳ וכ׳ (it cannot be raised) before he has been under the ban thirty days. Sot. 5ᵃ בש׳ דאית ביה ובש׳ דלית ביה he (the scholar) in whom there is pride deserves excommunication, and also he in whom there is no pride at all. Kidd. 12ᵇ Rab ordered to be lashed על דחלא ש׳ וכ׳ him who allowed excommunication (for contempt of court) to rest on him thirty days (and did not submit to authority). B. Mets. 70ᵃ ולא מקבל עליה ש׳ דרבנ‌ן Ms. M. and does not bring upon himself the ban of the Rabbis (but obeys their summons); a. fr. —2) = h. חֵרֶם, accursed object. Targ. Y. Deut. XIII, 18.—Pl. שַׁמְתִּין. Ib. VII, 26, v. שַׁמִּיתָא.