I.gen. laci, Vulg. Dan. 6, 17; 24; id. Jer. 37, 15; Cassiod. Var. 11, 14; dat. and abl. plur. lacis, Anthol. Lat. 5, 71, 10: “lacibus,” Plin. 23, 1, 20, § 33; “usually lacubus,” Ov. M. 12, 278 al.), m. root lak, to tear; Gr. λάκος, λακερός, λάκκος; Lat. lacer, lacinia, lacuna, lāma; cf. lacerna; originally any thing hollow, hence.
I. A large vessel for liquids, a basin, tank, tub; esp. a vat into which the wine flowed from the press, Cato, R. R. 25; 67, 2; Col. 12, 18, 3: “tu quoque devotos, Bacche, relinque lacus,” Tib. 2, 3, 64: “de lacubus proxima musta tuis,” Ov. F. 4, 888; “a tank of water, in which heated metal was cooled: alii stridentia tingunt Aera lacu,” Verg. G. 4, 173: “gelido ceu quondam lamina candens tincta lacu, stridit,” Ov. M. 9, 170: “ferrum, igne rubens ... lacubus demittit,” id. ib. 12, 278.—Hence,
B. Transf.: “oratio quasi de musto ac lacu fervida,” i. e. still new, that has not done fermenting, Cic. Brut. 83, 288.—
II. A large body of water which rises and falls (opp. stagnum, a standing pool), a lake, pond: “agri, aedificia, lacus, stagna,” Cic. Agr. 3, 2, 7: “exhalant lacus nebulam,” Lucr. 5, 463: “deae, quae illos Hennenses lacus lucosque incolitis,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 72, § 188; cf. “2, 4, 48, § 107: Averni,” Lucr. 6, 746; Cic. Tusc. 1, 16, 37: “Albanus,” id. Div. 1, 44, 100: “Fucinus,” Plin. 36, 15, 24, § 124: “dicebar sicco vilior esse lacu,” Prop. 2, 14 (3, 6), 12: “ad spurcos lacus,” Juv. 6, 603.—Poet., of a river: “deinde lacu fluvius se condidit alto Ima petens,” Verg. A. 8, 66; cf. v. 74; “of the Styx,” id. ib. 6, 134; 238; 393.—
III. A large reservoir for water, a basin, tank, cistern (of which there were a great number in Rome), Front. 3; 78; Liv. 39, 44; Plin. 36, 15, 24, § 121: “a furno redeuntes lacuque,” Hor. S. 1, 4, 37.—A place called Lacus: garruli et malevoli supra Lacum, at the pond (perh. Lacus Curtius or Lacus Juturnae), Plaut. Curc. 4, 1, 16.—Prov.: “siccus lacus, for something useless,” Prop. 2, 11, 11 (3, 6, 12).—
IV.
a. A hole in which lime is slacked, a lime-hole, Vitr. 7, 2, 2.—
b. One of the bins or receptacles for pulse in a granary: “sed et lacubus distinguuntur granaria, ut separatim quaeque legumina ponantur,” Col. 1, 6, 14.—
d. The pit, the place of the dead (cf. II. fin. supra): “salvasti me a descendentibus in lacum,” Vulg. Psa. 29, 4.—
V. For lacunar, a panel in a ceiling (ante-class.): resultant aedesque lacusque, Lucil. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 1, 726.