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
[ruh-skawl-nik] 
