1. A member of an ancient people of uncertain origin who inhabited parts of northern Britain, fought against the Romans, and in the 9th century A.D. united with the Scots to form a kingdom later to become known as Scotland.
2. Etymologically, the "painted" or "tattooed" people.
3. An ancient people of Great Britain, from Late Latin Picti (late third century, probably a nickname given to them by Roman soldiers), usually taken as derived from picti "painted", but probably from the Celtic name of the tribe, perhaps Pehta, Peihta; literally, "the fighters". They painted and tattooed themselves, which may have suggested a Roman folk-etymology alteration of the name. The Old English name for the people was Peohtas.