I.property in cattle; hence, as in early times all property consisted of cattle, in gen., property.
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “peculi sui prodigi (servi),” Plaut. Most. 4, 1, 19: “cupiditas peculii,” Cic. Par. 5, 2 fin.: “cura peculi,” Verg. E. 1, 33 Serv.; Hor. A. P. 330.—
B. In partic., private property.
1. What the master of the house saves and lays by, money laid by, savings, Dig. 32, 1, 77.—
2. What a wife owns as her independent property, and over which her husband has no control, a private purse, paraphernalia, Dig. 23, 3, 9, § 3.—
3. That which is given by a father or master to his son, daughter, or slave, as his or her private property: “frugi sum, nec potest peculium enumerari,” Plaut. As. 2, 4, 91: “adimere servis peculium,” Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 17; 1, 17, 5: “filii,” Liv. 2, 41; cf. Sen. Ep. 11, 1: “Juliam uxorem peculio concesso a patre praebitisque annuis, fraudavit,” Suet. Tib. 50: “cultis augere peculia servis,” fees, Juv. 3, 189.—
4. Castrense, the private property of a son acquired by military service, with the consent of his father (profecticium), or by inheritance through his mother (adventicium); then called quasi castrense, Dig. 49, 17, 5 sqq.; Paul. Sent. 3, 4; cf. Dig. 37, 6, 1.—
5. = membrum virile, Plaut. Ps. 4, 7, 92; id. Most. 1, 3, 96; Petr. S. 8; Lampr. Elag. 9; cf. peculiatus.—