I.that on which any thing is carried or borne.
I. A frame, a barrow, litter, bier for carrying the spoils, the images of the gods, etc., in public processions: “spolia ducis hostium caesi suspensa fabricato ad id apte ferculo gerens in Capitolium ascendit,” Liv. 1, 10, 5; Suet. Caes. 37; id. Calig. 15: “(Caesar) tensam et ferculum Circensi pompa, etc. (recepit),” id. Caes. 76: ut pomparum ferculis similes esse videamur, * Cic. Off. 1, 36, 131.—
II. A dish on which food is served; and hence a dish or mess of food, a course (perh. not anteAug.; cf.: epulum, daps, commissatio; “merenda, prandium, etc.): ubi multa de magna superessent fercula cena,” Hor. S. 2, 6, 104: “cenae fercula nostrae Malim convivis quam placuisse cocis,” Mart. 9, 82; so Petr. 35; 36; Suet. Aug. 74; Plin. 33, 10, 47, § 136; Juv. 1, 94; 7, 184; 11, 64.
