on the origins of "Scapegoat"

n. One bearing blame for others. --v. To make a scapegoat of.

A term originating in Jewish tradition...

Once a year, the high priest in ancient Israel would take two goats and cast lots for them [Lev. 16:7,8]. One goat would be killed [16:9] and its blood sprinkled on the atonement cover [or "mercy seat"] in the Most Holy Place of the temple to make amends for the people’s sins [16:15,16]. [In the Most Holy Place, the high priest, symbolically, came "face to face" with God].

Next, laying his hands on the other goat, the priest would confess over it all the sins of Israel; then this second goat [the "scapegoat"], carrying upon itself the sins of all the people, would be led away and released in the desert [Lev. 16:10,20,21,22]. Symbolically, then, the Israelites’ sin and guilt were transferred onto the goats and completely removed from their presence.