a member of any of several sects founded by dissenters from the Russian Orthodox Church who opposed the liturgical reforms of Nikon in the 17th century.
Origin: < Russ raskólʾnik schismatic, equiv. to raskól split, schism (n. deriv. of raskolótʾ to split; ras- v. prefix marking dissolution, fracture + kolotʾ to chop) + -nik agent suffix
"dissenter from the Russian Church, an Old Believer," 1723, from Rus. Raskolnik "separatise," from raskol "schism, separation." The schism was a result of reforms by Patriarch Nikon in 1667.
[ruh-skawl-nik] 
