The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Maccabees \Mac"ca*bees\, n. pl.
   1. The name given in later times to the Asmonaeans, a family
      of Jewish patriots, who headed a religious revolt in the
      reign of Antiochus IV., 168-161 b. c., which led to a
      period of freedom for Israel. --Schaff-Herzog.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The name of two ancient historical books, which give
      accounts of Jewish affairs in or about the time of the
      Maccabean princes, and which are received as canonical
      books in the Roman Catholic Church, but are included in
      the Apocrypha by Protestants. Also applied to three books,
      two of which are found in some MSS. of the Septuagint.
      [1913 Webster] Maccaboy