One of a class of anchorites who lived in various parts of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

one of an order of monks in the early Middle Ages.

The Culdee, Kuldee or Céli Dé (lit. "vassals of God") formed an ancient monastic order with settlements in Ireland and Scotland. In early Irish manuscripts the name is Cele De, that is, God's sworn ally. Thence the term was latinized to Coli dei, leading to Boece's culdei, which term seems to have been applied generally to monks and hermits.