philistine

Where does the word "philistine" come from? It comes from Hebrew Plishtim, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Philistine’s story begins in Hebrew: Plishtim meant “a member of the Philistine people.” An ancient people who settled along the coast of Canaan, frequent rivals of the Israelites. It reached English by 1600s as philistine. Broadened by German students' slang into a word for someone hostile to culture and learning. Today, philistine means a person who is indifferent or hostile to art, literature, and culture.

1. Stage 1 · Hebrew · ancient Plishtim "a member of the Philistine people", an ancient people who settled along the coast of Canaan, frequent rivals of the Israelites.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s philistine "a person hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts", broadened by German students' slang into a word for someone hostile to culture and learning.