ascitan

ascitan Eccl. Hist.

(əˈsaɪtən, ˈæsɪtən)

[f. med.L. Ascītæ, a. Gr. ἀσκῖται, f. ἀσκός wine-skin: see -ite, -an.]

A member of a heretical sect in the second century, who used to dance round an inflated wine-skin, in reference to Matt. ix. 17.

1727–51 in Chambers Cycl. s.v. Ascitæ.