I.an enclosure of any kind; hence, a stable, stall, fold, pen (syn. stabulum).
I. Lit.: “praesaepis bubus hibernas,” Cato, R. R. 14: “si villa habebat praesaepias laxas,” Varr. R. R. 1, 13, 6 (al. praesaepes, al. praesaepis): “stabant ter centum (equi) nivei in praesaepibus altis,” Verg. A. 7, 275: “in praesaepibus ursi,” id. ib. 7, 17: “nocturna claudere praesaepia,” folds, Calp. Ecl. 1, 38: “qui bona donavit praesaepibus,” has expended his estate on his stables, Juv. 1, 59.—A crib, manger: “bonas praesaepis,” Cato, R. R. 4: “in praesaepiis,” Varr. R. R. 2, 5: “accedit ad praesaepe,” Phaedr. 2, 8, 22: “non altius edita esse praesaepia convenit, quam, etc.,” Col. 1, 6: “praesaepium meum hordeo passim repleri jubet,” App. M. 7, p. 194, 3.—
II. Transf.
A. A hut, hovel; a dwelling, tavern: “quin reciperet se ad praesaepem suam,” Plaut. Curc. 2, 1, 13.—Mostly plur.: “scit, si id impetret, futurum, quod amat, intra praesaepis suas,” i. e. in his own house, in his power, Plaut. Cas. prol. 56: “vocat me hic intra praesaepis meas,” into my house, id. Rud. 4, 3, 99: fucos a praesaepibus arcent, i. e. from the hives, Verg. G. 4, 168; id. A. 1, 435: “audis in praesaepibus,” in drinking-shops, Cic. Pis. 18, 42.—
C. The space between the two stars called Aselli in the sign of the Crab, Plin. 18, 35, 80, § 353.