The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sophister \Soph"ist*er\, n.
   1. A sophist. See Sophist. [Obs.] --Hooker.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Eng. Univ.) A student who is advanced beyond the first
      year of his residence.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The entire course at the university consists of three
         years and one term, during which the students have the
         titles of first-year men, or freshmen; second-year men
         or junior sophs or sophisters; third-year men, or
         senior sophs or sophisters; and, in the last term,
         questionists, with reference to the approaching
         examination. In the older American colleges, the junior
         and senior classes were originally called, and in some
         of them are still called, junior sophisters and senior
         sophisters.
         [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sophister \Soph"ist*er\, v. t.
   To maintain by sophistry, or by a fallacious argument. [Obs.]
   --obham.
   [1913 Webster] Sophistic