Raskolnik

noun

Ras·kol·nik | \ rəˈskȯlnik \

plural Raskolniks\ -ks \ or Raskolniki\ -nəkē \

Definition of Raskolnik

: 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

History and Etymology for Raskolnik

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)