The Roman Army A to Z: sermo castrensis

sermo castrensis (Phr. Mod.)

The Latin spoken (and written) in the Roman army, and by some writers equated with Vulgate Latin, to be distinguished from Classical Latin. [Goldsworthy 2003]

The Roman Army A to Z: semissalis

semissalis ( pl. semissales)

A post in a Late Roman cavalry unit on one-and-a-half-times pay. Equivalent to a sesquiplicarius. Hier., CIH 19; CIL V, 8739. [Southern and Dixon 1996]

The Roman Army A to Z: semispatha

semispatha (f. pl. semispathae)

A short sword formed from a cut-down spatha. Veg., DRM 2.15–16. [Bishop and Coulston 2006]

The Roman Army A to Z: sella

sella (f. pl. sellae)

Saddle. Cod. Just. 12.50.12. See also ephippium and scordiscus [Bishop and Coulston 2006]

The Roman Army A to Z: seditio

seditio (f. pl. seditiones)

Mutiny. Caes., BC 1.87; Tac., Ann. 1.17.1. [Goldsworthy 2003]

The Roman Army A to Z: secutor

secutor (m. pl. secutores)

Assistant to an officer (RMR 58.2.7); s. tribuni: assistant to a tribune, usually in the Rome cohorts (CIL VI, 2659; 2987). [Goldsworthy 2003]

The Roman Army A to Z: scutum

scutum (n. pl. scuta)

A shield (CIL VIII, 2532; XIII, 3592); s. de viminea: a double-weight practice shield made of wicker (Veg., DRM 1.11); s. planatum: a flat shield (ChLA 10.409.2.13); s. publicum: a battle shield (Veg., DRM 1.11); s. talarium: an ankle-length shield (ChLA 10.409.2.9). [Bishop and Coulston 2006]

The Roman Army A to Z: scutatus

scutatus (m. pl. scutati)

Literally ‘shielded’, used synonymously for heavy troops. Caes., BC 1.39.1; Livy 28.2.4. See also caetratus [Goldsworthy 2003]

The Roman Army A to Z: scutarius

scutarius (m. pl. scutarii)

1. A shield-maker (Plaut., Ep. 1.1.35; Tab. Vind. 184); 2. bodyguard under the Dominate (AE 1959, 196). [Bishop and Coulston 2006]

The Roman Army A to Z: scorpio

scorpio (m. pl. scorpiones)

Literally ‘a scorpion’ (referring to its sting). An artillery weapon, originally referring to a bolt-shooter, later to an onager. Veg., DRM 4.22; Amm. 23.4.4; Caes., BG 7.25. See also onager [Bishop and Coulston 2006]