Flagellant

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Flagellant \Flag"el*lant\, n. [L. flagellans, p. p. of
     flagellare: cf.F. flagellant. See {Flagellate}.] (Eccl.
     Hist.)
     One of a fanatical sect which flourished in Europe in the
     13th and 14th centuries, and maintained that flagellation was
     of equal virtue with baptism and the sacrament; -- called


     also {disciplinant}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  flagellant
       n 1: a person who is whipped or whips himself for sexual
            gratification
       2: a person who whips himself as a religious penance