Raskolnik

noun

Ras·​kol·​nik
rəˈskȯlnik
plural Raskolniks
-ks
or Raskolniki
-nəkē
: a dissenter from the Russian Orthodox Church and member of one of the several groups (as the Doukhobors, Khlysty) developing from the schism of the 17th century in protest against liturgical reforms

called also Old Believer, Old Ritualist

Word History

Etymology

Russian raskol'nik, from raskol schism (from raz-, prefix denoting separation—from Old Slavic—+ -kol, from kolot' to separate, divide) + -nik, noun suffix denoting a person engaged in or connected with something specified; akin to Lithuanian kalti to beat, forge (lame)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Raskolnik

Cite this Entry

“Raskolnik.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Raskolnik. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!