SHIB'BOLETH, n. 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 . Hence,
2. The criterion of a party or that which distinguishes one party from another and usually some peculiarity in things of little importance.