căvĕa, ae, f. (gen. caveāï, Lucr. 4, 78) [cavus]. an excavated place, a hollow, cavity.
I In gen., Plin. 11, 2, 2, § 3.—Hence,
II Esp.
A An enclosure for animals (cf. caulae), a stall , cage , den , coop , beehive , bird-cage , and the like, Lucr. 6, 198; 3, 684; Hor. A. P. 473; Mart. 9, 58, 10; 9, 89, 4; Suet. Calig. 27; id. Ner. 29 al.—Of a birdcage , Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 67; id. Curc. 3, 1, 79; cf. id. Capt. 1, 2, 15; Cic. Div. 2, 35, 73; id. N. D. 2, 3, 7; Mart. 14, 77.—Of a beehive , Verg. G. 4, 58; Col. 9, 7, 4; 9, 15, 7; 9, 15, 9.— Hence,
B An enclosure about a young tree , in order to protect it from injury , Col. 5, 6, 21; 5, 9, 11; Pall. Febr. 10, 5; a hedge before the windows of a cage , Col. 8, 8, 4.—
C In the human body.
1 The roof of the mouth , Prud. Cath. 2, 92.—
2 The sockets of the eyes , Lact. Mort. Pers. 40, 5.—
D The part of the theatre in which spectators sat , spectators’ seats or benches , Plaut. Am. prol. 66; Cic. Lael. 7, 24; Lucr. 4, 78; Verg. A. 5, 340; 8, 636; on account of the ascending rows of benches, ima or prima, the seat of the nobility , media and summa or ultima, the seat of the lower classes , Cic. Sen. 14, 48; Suet. Aug. 44; id. Claud. 21; Sen. Tranq. 11: CAV. II., Inscr. Orell. 2539; cf. Dict. of Antiq.—
2 Meton.
a (Pars pro toto.) The theatre in gen., Plaut. Truc. 5, 1, 39; Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 38.—
b The spectators , Stat. Th. 1, 423.