druid

Where does the word "druid" come from? It comes from Gaulish druides, passing through Latin and French before entering English (1560s).

Druid’s story begins in Gaulish: druides meant “a Celtic priest and scholar.” A member of the learned priestly class of the Celtic Gauls, from a Celtic compound meaning roughly "strong seer". By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as druidae. Recorded by Roman writers describing the priestly class of the Gauls and Britons. From there it passed into French as druide by 1500s. Revived in Renaissance French scholarship from the Latin term. It reached English by 1560s as druid. Julius Caesar described the Gaulish druids in his 'Gallic War'. Today, druid means a priest or figure of ancient Celtic religion, often linked to nature worship.

1. Stage 1 · Gaulish · ancient druides "a Celtic priest and scholar", a member of the learned priestly class of the Celtic Gauls, from a Celtic compound meaning roughly "strong seer".
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient druidae "a Celtic priest", recorded by Roman writers describing the priestly class of the Gauls and Britons.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s druide "a Celtic priest of antiquity", revived in Renaissance French scholarship from the Latin term.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1560s druid "a priest of ancient Celtic religion", Julius Caesar described the Gaulish druids in his 'Gallic War'.