Lewis & Short

sentīna, ae, f.

  1. I. Lit., the filthy water that collects in the bottom of a ship, bilgewater: cum alii malos scandant, alii per foros cursent, alii sentinam exhauriant, Cic. Sen. 6, 17; * Caes. B. C. 3, 28: in nave, quae sentinam trahit, Sen. Ep. 30, 2: pisces sentinae navium odorem procul fugiunt, Plin. 10, 70, 90, § 194 al.; Gell. 19, 1, 3: mersamque vitiis suis, quasi sentinā, rempublicam pessum dedere, Flor. 3, 12, 7.
  2. II. Transf., the bottom of a ship where the bilge-water is, the hold: hi Romam sicuti in sentinam confluxerant, Sall. C. 37, 5: sedebamus in puppi et clavum tenebamus; nunc autem vix est in sentinā locus, Cic. Fam. 9, 15, 3.
  3. III. Trop.
      1. 1. The lowest of the people, the dregs, refuse, rabble of a state or city (good prose; cf. faex): si tu exieris, exhaurietur ex urbe tuorum comitum magna et perniciosa sentina rei publicae, Cic. Cat. 1, 5, 12; 2, 4, 7 (cf. Quint. 8, 6, 15); id. Att. 1, 19, 4; id. Agr. 2, 26, 70; Liv. 24, 29, 3; Flor. 3, 1, 4.
      2. 2. The hangerson of an army, camp-followers, Val. Max. 2, 7, 1.