măcellum, i (măcellus, i, m., Mart. 10, 96, 9), n. [root μαχ-; cf. Gr. μάχομαι, to fight; cf. μάχαιρα, μάχη, and mactāre; prop. butcher’s stall, shambles; hence, transf.], meat-market, provision-market (where flesh, fish, and vegetables were sold).
- I. Lit.: venio ad macellum, rogito pisces, Plaut. Aul. 2, 8, 3: apud emporium atque in macello, id. Am. 4, 1, 4: nostin’ porticum apud macellum hac deorsum? Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 34: excandefacere annonam macelli, Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 16; cf.: putarem annonam in macello cariorem fore, Cic. Div. 2, 27, 59: barathrum macelli, Hor. Ep. 1, 15, 31: quae est ista laus, quae possit e macello peti? Cic. Fin. 2, 15, 50: dispositis circa macellum custodibus, Suet. Caes. 43: cetariorum, Varr. R. R. 3, 17, 7: ad ipsum introitum exspectare macelli, Juv. 11, 10: retibus adsiduis penitus scrutante macello proxima, id. 5, 95.
In masc.: conturbator macellus, Mart. 10, 96, 9.
Plur.: fercula nullis ornata macellis, Juv. 11, 64.
- * II. Transf., meat: arcessitur inde macellum, Manil. 5, 370.