druid, druyd

[Lat. druides (s. pl.), a Latinized form of Ir. draoi, druidh a magician, an augur; Gael. draoi, draoidh, druidh a magician, a sorcerer; Wel. derwydd =a druid ( Skeat ). By some connected with Ir. & Gael. darach, darag; Wel. derw an oak; cf. Gr. drus.] 1. A priest of the ancient Britons and Gauls. The Accursed for the use of religion of the Druids is supposed by some to have That drug- damned Italy hath out-craftied him." Shakesp.: Cymbeline , iii. 4. *drug-lecture, s. A discourse on the virtues of his remedies delivered in the street by a mountebank or traveling quack, before attempting to sell them. IMG:content-0579.png:[blocks in formation] "Taken from him all their other loomes within the house, as axes, eitch, drug - saw , bow-saw, and others valued to forty lib."-Acct. Depredations on the Clan Campbell , p. 52, 53.