ˈPublican, n.2 Eccl. Hist.
Forms: 5 Popelican, -quan, 7 Poblican, 6– Publican.
[ME. popelican, a. OF. popelican, publican, ad. med.L. Pop(e)licān-us, Publicān-us, altered from med.Gr. Παυλικιαν-ός (υ= v) Paulician, in allusion to, or by confusion with, L. pūblicānus publican1.]
A name applied to the Paulicians of the South of France in the 12th c.
| [a 1225 Ralph of Coggeshalle Chron. (Rolls) 122 Temporibus Ludovici regis Franciæ, qui genuit regem Philippum, cum error quorumdam hæreticorum qui vulgo appellantur Publicani, per plures provincias Galliæ proserperet. c 1250 Matt. Paris (ad ann. 1236), Gallice etiam dicuntur ab aliquibus Popelicani.] 1481 Caxton Godeffroy xli. 80 Nygh by was a castel right strong, wherin alle the popeliquans of the lande were withdrawen. Ibid. lii. 94 And there was disputed ayenst this popelican. 1573 Stow Ann. (1592) 213 There came into England 30. Germanes,..who called themselues Publicans... They denyed matrimony, and the sacraments of baptisme, and the Lords supper, with other articles. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. ix. viii. IV. 180 The Archbishops of Lyons and Narbonne..sate in solemn judgment on some, it should seem, poor and ignorant men called Publicans. |