portisculus
Τοὺς δούλους ἔταξεν ὡρισμένου νομίσματος ὁμιλεῖν ταῖς θεραπαινίσιν → He arranged for his male slaves to have sex with female slaves at a fixed price (Plutarch, Life of Cato the Elder 21.2)
Latin > English
portisculus portisculi N M :: timing-hammer (to keep beat); guidance
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
portiscŭlus: i, m.
I Lit., a truncheon or hammer with which the master of the rowers gave signals, and beat time to indicate the proper stroke: tonsas ante tenentes Parerent, observarent, portisculus signum Cum dare coepisset, Enn. ap. Non. 151, 26 (Ann. v. 233 Vahl.); Cato ap. Fest. p. 234 Müll.: nec palmarum pulsus nec portisculi, Laber. ap. Non. 151, 28.—*
II Trop., guidance, direction: ad loquendum atque ad tacendum tu ut habes portisculum, Plaut. As. 3, 1, 15.
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
portiscŭlus,¹⁵ ī, m., bâton avec lequel le chef des rameurs marquait le rythme : Enn. Ann. 228 ; Fest. 234 ; [fig.] Pl. As. 520.
Latin > German (Georges)
portisculus, ī, m., der Hammer des Rudermeisters, womit er den Takt schlägt, damit die Ruderer die Ruder gleichzeitig in die Höhe ziehen und herabstoßen und so im Takte rudern, Enn. ann. 228. Laber. com. 53. Cato oratt. 63. Fronto de fer. Als. 3. p. 224, 14 N. – im Bilde, ad loquendum atque tacendum habere portisculum, die Direktion, Plaut. asin. 516 (518).
