Origin of term "Holocaust"

nancy prouty (proutyn@bergen.nclack.k12.or.us)
Thu, 29 May 1997 10:55:35 -0800

I am a sixth grade teacher and my students are currently reading literature
fiction stories about WWII. Recently, the question came up regarding the term
"Holocoust" and what it means. I assumed it was a Jewish term but was at a loss
of what it means and how the term came to be used in reference to the Jewish
loss of lives.