Culdees

(kül-deez!) (Eccl. Hist.) A religious order, the founding of which is attributed to St. Columba, an Irish monk of the 6th cent. Being remarkable for their religious exercises of preaching and praying, they were called by way of eminence, Cultores Dei, corrupted to Culdees. Their chief monastery was on the island of Iona, one of the He brides. [s. 252]