FOREST, in Geography, a large extent of ground covered with trees. The word is formed from the Latin foresta, which first occurs in the capitulars of Charlemagne, and which is itself derived from the German frost, signifying the same thing. Spelman derives it from the Latin foris restat, by reason forests are out of towns. Others derive foresta from feris, that is, Foresta, quod sit tuta statio ferarum, as being a safe station or abode for wild beasts.
The Caledonian and Hercynian forests are famous in history. The former was a celebrated retreat of the ancient
Picts and Scots; and the latter, in Caesar's time, extended from the borders of Alsacia and Switzerland to Transylvania, being computed at sixty days' journey in length, and nine in breadth. The ancients venerated forests, and imagined that a great part of their gods resided therein. Temples were frequently built in the thickest forests, the gloom and silence of which naturally inspire sentiments of devotion. For a similar reason the Druids made forests the place of their residence, performing sacrifices, instructing youth, and giving laws in their umbrageous recesses.