matella
ἄλογον δὴ τὸ μήτε μάχης ἄρξασθαι μήτε τοὺς φίλους φυλάξαι, ἐὰν ὑπό γε τῶν βαρβάρων ἀδικῆσθε → It is irrational neither to begin battle nor to guard the friends, if you are ever wronged by the foreigners
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
mătella: or mătēla, ae, f.
dim. matula,
I a pot, a vessel for liquids.
I In gen.: matella aquae, Plaut. Fragm. ap. Non. 543, 17; Varr. ib. 19; Cato, R. R. 10; 11.—Prov.: mus in matella, of a person in difficulty, Petr. 58, 9.—
II In partic., a chamber-pot, Mart. 12, 32, 13; id. 6, 89, 1; 14, 119 in lemm.; Sen. Ben. 3, 26, 2.—Hence, prov.: matellam praestare alicui, i. e. to perform for one the most menial offices, Mart. 10, 11, 3.—Transf., of a prostitute, Petr. 45, 8.
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
mătella,¹³ æ, f., pot [à mettre des liquides] : Pl. d. Non. 543, 17 ; Cato Agr. 10, 11 || pot de chambre : Mart. 12, 32, 13 ; Sen. Ben. 3, 26, 2.
