milah

The operation consists of three parts: " milah," " peri'ah," and " mezizah." Milah: The child having been placed upon a pillow resting upon the lap of the godfather or "sandek", ... the mohel exposes the parts by removal of the parts by removal of garments, etc., and instructs the sandek how to hold the child's legs. The mohel then grasps the prepuce between the thumb and index-finger of his left hand, exerting sufficient traction to draw it from the glans, and places the shield in position just before the glans. He now takes the knife and with one sweep excises the foreskin. This completes the first act. Peri'ah: After the excision has been completed, the mohel seizes the inner lining of the prepuce, which still covers the glans, with the thumb-nail

1901, Isidore Singer, Cyrus Adler, The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day · Volume 4 page 99

The milah (the cutting off of the end of the upper prepuce) is then performed. In medieval Ashkenazic communities it was customary to place the removed prepuce in a container of sand.

1980, Abraham P. Bloch, The Biblical and Historical Background of Jewish Customs and Ceremonies, page 12