Dibbur Hamaschil

Dibbur Hamaschil (abbreviation: D"H) is a term for the first words that begin an article from a verse or a statement of the Sages. This is also what the quoted passage is called when one of the commentators on the Gemara and Shulchan Aruch begins before discussing the matter.

In Chabad Chassidus, it is customary to refer to well-known maamarim (discourses) by their "Dibbur Hamatchil," along with noting the year in which the maamar was delivered in order to distinguish which maamar from which year is being referred to.

On rare occasions, there are several "Dibbur Hamatchil" from the same year that match each other, and then they are noted alongside the date or period in which they were delivered, or with the notation (1), (2), (3), and so forth.