[In early use f. VULCAN sb. + -IST. In sense 3 ad. F. vulcaniste, var. of volcaniste VOLCANIST.]
† 1. One who works by fire; spec. an alchemist, a blacksmith. Obs.
1593. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 177. The Country affordeth sufficient prouision of water, to encounter the terriblest Vulcanist, that brandisheth a burning sword, or a fierie tongue.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., II. 23. I perswade my selfe, that no philosophicall vulcanist, or perfect paracelsian, will ever finde any true magisterie, tincture, quintessence or Arcanum therein.
1603. Dekker, Wonderfull Yeare, C 2 b. What Mechanicall hardhanded Vulcanist but perswaded himselfe to bee Maister of the Company.
2. One who is lame, as Vulcan was.
1656. Artif. Handsom., 60. Your Laps Charity doth not reprove, but pity those poor Vulcanists, who ballance the inequality of their heels, or badger leggs, by the art and help of the shoemaker.
3. = VOLCANIST I.
1802. Playfair, Illustr. Huttonian The., 3. Their followers have of late been distinguished by the fanciful names of Vulcanists and Neptunists.
1830. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 90. In addition to volcanic heat, to which the Vulcanists formerly attributed too much influence, we must allow for the effect of mechanical pressure [etc.].
1884. Sir L. Playfair, in Gd. Words, Feb., 93/1. Vulcanists of the old school would be equally perplexed, because petroleum is so volatile that … it would be dissipated.
