An inhabitant or native of Galilee. This word was used as a name of contempt as applied to our Lord's disciples (Luke 22:59; Acts 2:7). All the apostles, with the exception of Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:11), were Galileans. Peter was detected by his Galilean accent (Matthew 26:69; Mark 14:70).

This was also one of the names of reproach given to the early Christians. Julian the Apostate, as he is called, not only used the epithet himself when referring to Christ and his apostles, but he made it a law that no one should ever call the Christians by any other name.

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (a.) Of or pertaining to Galileo; as, the Galilean telescope. See Telescope.

2. (a.) of or relating to Galilee.

3. (n.) A native or inhabitant of Galilee, the northern province of Palestine under the Romans.

4. (n.) One of the party among the Jews, who opposed the payment of tribute to the Romans; -- called also Gaulonite.

5. (n.) A Christian in general; -- used as a term of reproach by Mohammedans and Pagans.