\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.
Note: 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.
{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.