Philistim

Noun

Philistine (plural Philistines or (archaic) Philistim)

1. (historical) A non-Semitic person from ancient Philistia, a region in the southwest Levant in the Middle East.
   • Then the lords of the Philiſtines gathered them together, for to offer a great ſacrifice vnto Dagon their god, and to reioyce; for they ſaid, Our god hath deliuered Samſon our enemy into our hand.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Judges 16:23, column 1

   Synonyms:

   Philistee, Philistian, Palestine

2. (figuratively, plural-normally, frequently humorous) An opponent (of the speaker, writer, etc); an enemy, a foe.
   • In very truth what could poor old Abbot Hugo do? A frail old man; and the Philistines were upon him,—that is to say, the Hebrews.1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “Abbot Hugo”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book II (The Ancient Monk), page 44
3. (historical, university slang) In German universities: a person not associated with the university; a non-academic or non-student; a townsperson.

   Synonyms:

   philister

See all 6 meanings of philistine