trĭpŭdĭum, ii, n. [acc. to Cic. Div. 2, 34, 72, contr. from terripavium, terripudium, but prob. from ter and pes; cf. the old form tripodare, whence tripodatio]; in relig. lang.,
I Lit., a measured stamping , a leaping , jumping , dancing in relig. solemnities, a solemn religious dance : Salios ancilia ferre ac per urbem ire canentes carmina, cum tripudiis sollemnique saltatu jussit, Liv. 1, 20, 4; cf. tripudio and ‡ tripodatio.—
B Transf., in gen., a dance : citatis celerare tripudiis, Cat. 63, 26: tripudia Hispanorum, Liv. 25, 17, 5: cum sui moris tripudiis, id. 21, 42, 3: cantus incohantium proelium et ululatus et tripudia, id. 38, 17, 4.—
II A favorable omen , when the sacred chickens ate so greedily that the food dropped from their mouths to the ground, Cic. Div. 2, 34, 72; 2, 36, 77; 1, 15, 28; Liv. 10, 40, 5; Suet. Tib. 2; cf. solistimus.