scortum

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

scortum, i, n. [cf. Gr. χόριον, corium; Lith. skurà, skin].

I Lit., a skin , hide (post-class. and rare): pellem antiqui dicebant scortum, Varr. L. L. 7, § 84 Müll.: jam Omphale in Herculis scorto designata descripsit, Tert. Pall. 4 med.

II Transf., a harlot , strumpet , prostitute (freq. and class.): scorta appellantur meretrices, quia ut pelliculae subiguntur. Omnia namque ex pellibus facta scortea appellantur, Fest. pp. 330 and 331 Müll.— Sing. , Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 132; id. As. 4, 2, 5; 5, 2, 17; 5, 2, 79 et saep.; Ter. Eun. 424; id. Ad. 965; Hor. C. 2, 11, 21; id. Ep. 1, 18, 34; Tib. 3, 16, 4.— Plur. , Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 91; id. Pers. 3, 3, 14; id. Truc. 1, 1, 43 sq. et saep.; Cic. Mil. 21, 55; id. Cat. 2, 5, 10 al.—Of a male prostitute , Plaut. Curc. 4, 1, 12; Cic. Sest. 17, 39; id. Phil. 2, 18, 44; Petr. 9, 6; 119, 25; so also, virile, Aur. Vict. Caes. 28.—And with a masc. pron. : scortum exoletum ne quis in proscenio Sedeat, Plaut. Poen. prol. 17 (cf. senium, II. A.).—Also = pellex, a mistress , concubine , Plaut. Cas. 1016 and 1018.

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