Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AS'CI-TANS, n. [Gr. ασκος, a bag or bottle of skin.]

A sect or branch of Montanists, who appeared in the second century. They introduced into their assemblies, certain bacchanals, who danced around a bag or skin distended with air, in allusion to the bottles filled with new wine, Matth. ix. – Encyc.