in general, a great wood, or a large extent of ground covered with trees.

in law, is defined by Manwood, a certain territory of woody grounds, and fruitful pastures, privileged for wild beasts and fowls of forest, chace and warren, to rest and abide under the protection of the king, for his princely delight, bounded with unremovable marks, and meres, either known by matter of record or prescription; replenished with wild beasts of venery, or chace, with great coverts of vert for the said beasts; for preservation and continuance whereof, with the vert and venison, there are certain particular laws, privileges, and officers.

Forests are of that antiquity in England, that, excepting the new forest in Hampshire erected by William the Conqueror, and Hampton Court erected by Henry VIII. it is said that there is no record or history which makes any certain mention of their erection, though they are mentioned by several writers, and in divers of our laws and statutes.

There are sixty-nine forests in England, thirteen chases, and 800 parks. The four principal forests are New Forest, Sherwood Forest, Dean Forest, and Windsor Forest.

FOREST-TOWNS, in geography, certain towns of Swabia, in Germany, lying along the Rhine and the confines of Switzerland, and subject to the house of Austria. Their names are Rhinefield, Seckingen, Laufenburg, and Waldshut.