plebeian

Etymology

From Latin plēbēius (“a commoner; common”) + -an (“forming adjectives”), from Latin plēbēs + -ius (“forming adjectives”), possibly under the influence of Middle French plebeyen, plebein, plebien (“a commoner”) and plebeien (“concerning the common people”). Cf. Medieval Latin plēbēiānus (“a commoner”), from plēbēius + -ānus.

noun

1. (historical, Ancient Rome) A member of the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.
   Na plebeane will tak þe dochter of ane patriciane but hir consent. 1533, John Bellenden translating Livy, History of Rome, Vol. II, Ch. iv, Sect. ii
2. A commoner, particularly (derogatory) a low, vulgar person.
   There blude... vald hef na bettir cullour nor the blude of ane plebien or of ane mecanik craftis man. c. 1550, Robert Wedderburn, The Complaynt of Scotlande..., Ch. xv, p. 102
   The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian. 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral., London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 3

adj

1. (historical) Of or concerning the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.
   To what purpose be the plebeian Magistrates ordeined? 1566, William Painter, The Palace of Pleasure Beautified, Vol. I, Ch. iv, fol. 9 verso
2. Of or concerning the common people.
   ...priuate person or plebian multitude... 1602, William Watson, A Decacordon of Ten Quodlibeticall Questions, page 301
3. Common, particularly (derogatory) vulgar, crude, coarse, uncultured.
   For to plebeyan wits, it is as good, As to be silent, as not vnderstood. 1615, Robert Armin, The Valiant Welshman, Vol. i, Ch. i, sig. B
   […] told me love was too plebeian / told me you were through with me 1953, Arthur Hamilton (lyrics and music), “Cry Me a River”
   Completely absent was any mention of the Apple Watch Edition branding, which Apple used last year to launch a pair of $10,000-and-up Apple Watches that worked the same way as the cheap ones but were made out of actual gold instead of workaday, plebeian metals. 2016-09-08, Andrew Cunningham, “The $10,000 golden Apple Watch is no more”, in Arstechnica