Mid 17th century (in an earlier sense). From classical Latin caelicolae, plural of caelicola (in post-classical Latin also coelicola) inhabitant of heaven, god or goddess, in post-classical Latin also member of a Christian group accused in texts of the 4th–6th centuries of secession from the Church and of Judaizing, angel from caelum heaven + -cola inhabitant, worshipper from colere to cultivate, to worship.