What is shibboleth meaning?

Shibboleth is a word that originated in the Hebrew language and originally referred to a word used by the Gileadites in the Bible to identify and distinguish their own people from the Ephraimites. In modern usage, shibboleth is often used to refer to a cultural or linguistic marker that serves to establish an individual's social identity or membership in a particular group. For example, someone may use a particular intonation or phrase that is associated with a certain region, ethnic group, or subculture as a shibboleth to identify themselves as part of that group. In the context of computer security and identity management, Shibboleth is also the name of an open-source software platform that enables secure access to a wide range of online resources using single sign-on technology.