Mid 19th century. From classical Latin Phalaecius, designating the hendecasyllabic metre used by the poet Phalaecus (from the name of Phalaecus (Hellenistic Greek Φάλαικος), Greek poet (fl. 300 b.c.) + -ius, suffix forming adjectives) + -ean. With use as noun compare classical Latin Phalaecium, Hellenistic Greek Φαλαίκειον (short for Φαλαίκειον μέτρον).