caespĕs (not cespes), ĭtis, m. [caesus, caedo].
I A turf , sod as cut out : caespes est terra in modum lateris caesa cum herba, sive frutex recisus et truncus, Paul. ex Fest. p. 45 Müll.: caespes χορτόπλινθος, χορτόβωλος, πλίνθος, Gloss.: non esse arma caespites, neque glebas, * Cic. Caecin. 21, 60.— Used for altars, mounds (of tombs), for covering cottages, huts, etc., Hor. C. 1, 19, 13; Ov. Tr. 5, 5, 9; id. M. 4, 753; 7, 240; 15, 573; Verg. A. 3, 304; Tac. G. 27; id. A. 1, 62; Verg. E. 1, 69 Voss; Sen. Ep. 8, 5; Luc. 1, 512; 3, 387; Suet. Aug. 24.—
B Meton.
1 A cot , hut , hovel , shed : nec fortuitum spernere caespitem, Hor. C. 2, 15, 17.—
2 An altar : positusque carbo Caespite vivo, Hor. C. 3, 8, 4; Juv. 12, 2; Tac. H. 4, 53; App. Flor. n. 1, —
3 Any object of similar form , a knot , knob , Plin. 17, 21, 35, § 153.—
4 A clump , group of plants , Plin. 21, 7, 20, § 43; Verg. G. 4, 273 Forbig. ad loc.—
II In gen.
A A grassy field , a green field , turf , Verg. A. 11, 566: de caespite virgo se levat, Ov. M. 2, 427; 4, 301; 10, 556; 13, 931: sedere in caespite nudo, Suet. Tib. 18; Stat. Th. 12, 328; Petr. 120, 72; Plin. 16, 31, 56, § 128; 17, 4, 3, § 26.—
B Late Lat., the earth , ground , in gen., Avien. Perieg. 227; 388.