FOREST, a large extent of ground covered with trees. The word is formed from the base Latin foresta, which first occurs in the capitulars of Charlemagne, and is itself derived from the German forst, signifying the same thing. Vossius and Spelman refer it to the Latin foris, as being extra urbem et agros.
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 had a superstitious veneration for forests, as being the favourite abodes of many of their gods. Temples were frequently built in the thickest forests, the gloom and silence of which were calculated to inspire sentiments of devotion. For a similar reason the Druids dwelt in forests, performing sacrifices, instructing youth, and giving laws in their umbrageous recesses.