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Maccabees

Pronunciation: /ˈmakəbiːz/

Definition of Maccabees

noun

historical

the members or followers of the family of the Jewish leader Judas Maccabaeus.
(in full the Books of the Maccabees) four books of Jewish history and theology, of which the first and second are in the Apocrypha and feature Judas Maccabaeus.

Derivatives

Maccabean

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin Maccabaeus, an epithet applied to Judas, perhaps from Hebrew maqqeḇeṯ 'hammer' (by association with the religious revolt led by Judas)