I. A place enclosed around, a court, enclosure, yard, pen, etc., esp. for cattle, poultry, etc.
(α).
Cohors, Varr. R. R. 1, 13, 2 sq.; 2, 2, 9; Cato ap. Fest. p. 146, 29 Müll.; Col. 8, 3, 8; 7, 3, 8; Ov. F. 4, 704.—
(β).
Cors, Varr. ap. Non. l. l.; Glaucia ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 65 fin.; Col. 2, 14, 18; Vitr. 6, 9; Mart. 3, 58, 12; 13, 45, 2; Pall. 1, 22.—
II. Meton. (cf. chorus).
A. Lit., the multitude enclosed, fenced in; hence, in milit. lang., a company of soldiers, a division of an army, a cohort, the tenth part of a legion, comprising three manipuli or six centuriae (always written cohors), Varr. L. L. 5, § 88; Cincius ap. Gell. 16, 4, 6; Veg. Mil. 2, 6; so Caes. B. G. 3, 1; id. B. C. 1, 73; Sall. J. 90, 2; 105, 2; Verg. G. 2, 279; id. A. 11, 500 al.: praetoria, the prœtorian or bodyguard of the general, Caes. B. G. 1, 40; Sall. C. 61, 3 al.—Hence, trop.: “habere scortorum cohortem praetoriam,” Cic. Cat. 2, 11, 24.—
2. Opp. legiones, auxiliary troops, allies, Sall. J. 46, 7; Vell. 2, 112, 5; Tac. H. 4, 19; Flor. 3, 21, 18.—
4. Per synecdochen, an army in gen.: “cohors Inachiae servatrix,” Stat. Th. 5, 672.—
B. Specif., the train or retinue of the prœtor in a province: “praetoria,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 14, § 36; cf. id. ib. 2, 2, 27, § 66; Cat. 10, 10; Tib. 1, 3, 2; Hor. Ep. 1, 3, 6; 1, 8, 14.—
C. In gen., a crowd, multitude, company, throng, attendants (mostly poet. or in post-Aug. prose): “vaga,” Cat. 63, 25: “gigantum,” Hor. C. 2, 19, 22: “fratrum stipata,” Verg. A. 10, 328; cf. Ov. M. 11, 89; Hor. Epod. 16, 60; Tac. A. 6, 9: “amicarum,” of courtiers, Suet. Calig. 19; id. Ner. 5; id. Galb. 7 al.: “canum,” Plin. 8, 40, 61, § 143: “oratorum,” Gell. 19, 8, 15: “sectatorum,” id. 13, 5, 1.—Of things: “febrium,” Hor. C. 1, 3, 31.
