a circular arrangement of prehistoric megaliths on Salisbury Plain, England, probably set up in the Neolithic period
Origin:
ME stonheng < ston,stone + OE henge, (something) hanging: for IE base see hang
See Stonehenge in American Heritage Dictionary 4
A group of standing stones on Salisbury Plain in southern England. Dating to c. 2000-1800 B.C., the megaliths are enclosed by a circular ditch and embankment that may date to c. 2800. The arrangement of the stones suggests that Stonehenge was used as a religious center and also as an astronomical observatory.