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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Phi-lis'tine, n.

noun

(-īn), n. [Fr. Philistin, Lat. Philistinus, Heb. Pĕlishtī, pl. Pĕlishtīm, from pālash, to wander about.]

  1. (Geog.) A native or inhabitant of ancient Palestine.
  2. A bailiff. [Cant. Eng.] Wright.
  3. A philister. See PHILISTER.

☞ “Philistine is a cant term and was first brought into use by the students at the German Universities. It is generally employed to designate a common-place, prosaic sort of person, full of wise saws and modern instances.” For. Qu. Rev., No. 25.