pĕcūlātus (PEQVLATVS, Lex Apparit., v. in the foll.), ūs, m. [peculor].
I Lit., an embezzlement of public money , peculation : peculatus furtum publicum a pecore dictum, sicut et pecunia, eo quod antiqui Romani nihil praeter pecora habebant, Fest. p. 212 Müll.: perfidia et peculatus ex urbe si exulant, Plaut. Pers. 4, 4, 7; Cic. Phil. 12, 5, 12: peculatum facere, id. Rab. Perd. 3, 8: accusari peculatus, Auct. Her. 1, 12, 22: peculatus damnari, Cic. Fl. 18, 43; Liv. 33, 47: SINE MALO PEQVLATV, Lex Apparit. Grut. 628: judices qui peculatu provincias quassavissent, Cod. Th. 9, 28, 1: ad legem Juliam peculatus, Dig. 48, tit. 13.—
II Transf., of the caprice of love: perfidiosus est Amor. Si. Ergo in me peculatum facit, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 73.