EBUDÆ, or HEBUDES, in Ancient Geography, islands on the west of Scotland. The ancients differ greatly as to their situation, number and names; said in general to lie to the north of Ireland and west of Scotland. Now called the Western Isles, also Hebrides; this last a modern name, the reason of which does not appear, unless it be a corruption of Hebudes. By Beda called Mecanice, an appellation equally obscure.