(n)a small town near Jerusalem on the West Bank of the Jordan River; early home of David and regarded as the place where Jesus was born, Syn.Bethlehem-Judah, Bayt Lahm, Bethlehem Ephrathah
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
n. [ Heb. bēth-lekhem house of food; bēth house + lekhem food, lākham to eat. Formerly the name of a hospital for the insane, in London, which had been the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem. Cf. Bedlam. ] 1. A hospital for lunatics; -- corrupted into bedlam. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Arch.) In the Ethiopic church, a small building attached to a church edifice, in which the bread for the eucharist is made. Audsley. [ 1913 Webster ]