cancelli, ōrum (sing. cancellus, Dig. 43, 24, 9, § 1), m. dim. [2. cancer],
I a lattice , enclosure , grating , grate , balustrade , bars , railings : ( = κιγκλίδες; Latini tamen cancellos non tantum fores τοῦ δικαστηρίου, sed etiam omne consaeptum appellant, Salmas. Hist. Aug. p. 483) scenici et theatri, Varr. R. R. 3, 5, 4: aenei rivorum, Col. 8, 17, 6; the bar in a court of justice , Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 59, § 135: tantus ex fori cancellis plausus excitatus, the barrier in public spectacles , id. Sest. 58, 124: circi, Ov. Am. 3, 2, 64: aedium, Dig. 30, 41, § 10; 33, 7, 12, § 26: fenestrarum, Aug. Trin. 11, 2: saepta cancellorum, Amm. 30, 4, 19.—Of the reticulated skin of the elephant, Plin. 8, 10, 10, § 30; cf. cancello.—
B Trop., boundaries , limits (so perh. only in Cic.): si extra hos cancellos egredi conabor, quos mihi ipse circumdedi, Cic. Quint. 10, 36: esse certam rerum forensibus cancellis circumscriptam scientiam, id. de Or. 1, 12, 52: severitatis, Cod. Th. 1, 12, 8.—
II Meton., the space enclosed by boundaries , Auct. B. Afr. 15 fin.