I.a half-ounce, i. e. the twenty-fourth part of an as.
I. In gen., a twenty-fourth part of any whole: “facit heredem ex deunce et semunciā Caecinam,” Cic. Caecin. 6, 17: “semunciae horarum,” Plin. 2, 14, 11, § 58. —Hence, transf., a trifle: bona ejus propter alieni aeris magnitudinem semunciā venierunt, for a trifling sum, qs. for a mere song, Ascon. ad Cic. Mil. fin. p. 54 Orell.— Trop.: “brevis semuncia recti,” Pers. 5, 121. —
II. In partic., of weight, the twentyfourth of a pound: “semuncia auri,” Liv. 34, 1; Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 25, § 57: “mellis,” Col. 12, 57, 5; 12, 21, 2.—As a measure of dimension, the twenty-fourth of a jugeruin, Col. 5, 1, 10; 5, 2, 4.—
B. A domestic utensil of unknown capacity, Cato, R. R. 10, 3.