Druid stones, a name given, in the south of England, to weatherworn, rough pillars of gray sandstone scattered over the chalk downs, but in other countries generally in the form of circles, or in detached pillars.

Druidess
(Dru"id*ess), n. A female Druid; a prophetess.

Druidic
(Dru*id"ic Dru*id"ic*al) a. Pertaining to, or resembling, the Druids.

Druidical circles. See under Circle.

Druidish
(Dru"id*ish) a. Druidic.

Druidism
(Dru"id*ism) n. The system of religion, philosophy, and instruction, received and taught by the Druids; the rites and ceremonies of the Druids.

Drum
(Drum) n. [Cf. D. trom, trommel, LG. trumme, G. trommel, Dan. tromme, Sw. trumma, OHG. trumba a trumpet, Icel. pruma a clap of thunder, and as a verb, to thunder, Dan. drum a booming sound, drumme to boom; prob. partly at least of imitative origin; perh. akin to E. trum, or trumpet.]

1. (Mus.) An instrument of percussion, consisting either of a hollow cylinder, over each end of which is stretched a piece of skin or vellum, to be beaten with a stick; or of a metallic hemisphere (kettledrum) with a single piece of skin to be so beaten; the common instrument for marking time in martial music; one of the pair of tympani in an orchestra, or cavalry band.

The drums cry bud-a-dub.
Gascoigne.

Drugger
(Drug"ger) n. A druggist. [Obs.] Burton.

Drugget
(Drug"get) n. [F. droguet, prop. dim. of drogue trash, stuff, perh, the same word as drogue drug, but cf. also W. drwg evil, bad, Ir. & Gael. droch, Arm. droug, drouk. See 3d Drug.] (a) A coarse woolen cloth dyed of one color or printed on one side; generally used as a covering for carpets. (b) By extension, any material used for the same purpose.

Druggist
(Drug"gist) n. [F. droguiste, fr. drogue. See 3d Drug.] One who deals in drugs; especially, one who buys and sells drugs without compounding them; also, a pharmaceutist or apothecary.

The same person often carries on the business of the druggist and the apothecary. See the Note under Apothecary.

Drugster
(Drug"ster) n. A druggist. [Obs.] Boule.

Druid
(Dru"id) n. [L. Druides; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. & Gael. draoi, druidh, magician, Druid, W. derwydd Druid.]

1. One of an order of priests which in ancient times existed among certain branches of the Celtic race, especially among the Gauls and Britons.

The Druids superintended the affairs of religion and morality, and exercised judicial functions. They practiced divination and magic, and sacrificed human victims as a part of their worship. They consisted of three classes; the bards, the vates or prophets, and the Druids proper, or priests. Their most sacred rites were performed in the depths of oak forests or of caves.

2. A member of a social and benevolent order, founded in London in 1781, and professedly based on the traditions of the ancient Druids. Lodges or groves of the society are established in other countries.


  By PanEris using Melati.

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