BEAD, a small globule or ball used in necklaces; and made of different materials, as pearl, steel, garnet, coral, diamond, amber, crystal, pastes, glass, &c. — The Romanists make great use of beads in rehearsing their Ave-Marias, and Pater-nosters; 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 Druids. See ANGUIS, OPHIOLOGY Index.