early 14c., "member of a militant 1st century Jewish sect which fiercely resisted the Romans in Palestine," from Late Latin zelotes, from Greek zÄ“lÅtÄ“s "one who is a zealous follower," from zÄ“loÅn "to be zealous," from zÄ“los "zeal" (see zeal). Extended sense of "a fanatical enthusiast" first recorded 1630s (earlier in this sense was zelator, mid-15c.).