Corbītae
Merchantmen of the larger class, so called because they hung out a
corbis at the masthead for a sign (Festus; Nonius, s. v.). They were also termed
onerariae; and hence Plautus, in order to designate the voracious appetites
of some women, says
corbitam cibi comesse possunt (
Cas. iv. 1, 20). The modern
corvette gets its
name from the corbita.