BEAD, a small glass ball, made in imitation of pearl, and used in necklaces, &c.—The Romanists make great use of beads in rehearsing their Ave-Marias and Pater-noster's; and the like usage is found among the dervishes and other religious throughout the East, as well Mahometan as Heathen. The ancient druids appear also to have had their beads, many of which are still found; at least, if the conjecture of an ingenious author may be admitted, who takes those antique glass globules, having a snake painted round them, and called adder-beads, or snake-buttons, to have been the beads of our ancient British druids. See ANGUIS.