vestĭbŭlum, i, n. [perh. for vesti-bulum, kindr. with Sanscr. vas, habitare, commorari; cf. Vesta], the enclosed space between the entrance of a house and the street, a fore-court, entrance-court (cf. atrium).
I Lit., Gell. 16, 5, 2; Vitr. 6, 8; Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 132; Cic. Caecin. 12, 35; id. Verr. 2, 2, 66, § 160; id. Cael. 26, 62; Quint. 11, 2, 23; Ov. F. 6, 303; Juv. 7, 126 al.—
B Transf., in gen., an entrance to any thing: sepulcri, Cic. Leg. 2, 24, 61: castrorum, Liv. 25, 17, 5: columbarii, Varr. R. R. 3, 7, 4; cf. gallinarii, Col. 8, 3, 5; 8, 8, 3: alvearii, id. 9, 12, 1: urbis, Liv. 36, 22 fin. : Siciliae, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 66, § 170.—
II Trop., an entrance , opening , beginning : vestibula nimirum honesta aditusque ad causam faciet illustres, Cic. Or. 15, 50: vestibulum modo artis alicujus ingredi, Quint. 1, 5, 7; cf. id. 8, praef. § 18; 9, 4, 10.