SHIB'BOLETH, noun [Heb. an ear of corn, or a stream of water.] 1. A word which was made the criterion by which to distinguish the Ephraimites not being able to pronounce the letter sh, pronounced the word sibboleth. See Judges 12:6. Hence, 2. The criterion of a party; or that which distinguishes one party from another; and usually some peculiarity in things of little importance.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI