Brewer's: Dolmen

A name given in France to what we term “cromlechs.” These ancient remains are often called by the rural population devils' tables, fairies' tables, and so on. (Celtic, stone tables.) It consists of a slab resting on unhewn upright stones. Plural dolmens (dol, a table; men, a stone).

“The Indian dolmens ... may be said to be identical with those of Western Europe.” —J. Lubbock: Prehistoric Times, chap.v. p. 129.

Related Content Allusions Foreign Words and Phrases Latin and Greek Word Elements Names: Their Origins and Meanings Old Testament Names Mythology Ancient Greek Literature & Mythology The Bible (King James version) The Koran (translation by J. M. Rodwell) Shakespeare's Plays Tales from Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb) Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language