pəˈpȯvə̇ts noun
( plural po·pov·tsy -ȯftsē)
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Russian, from popov- (plural stem of pop priest) + -ets agent suffix — more at bezpopovets
: a member of one of the major groups of the Raskolnik in Russia which maintains the hierarchical structure of episcopate and priesthood and is thereby distinguished from the priestless branch of the Bezpopovtsy — compare bezpopovets