Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Acapna

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

ACAPNA, sc. Ligna (ἄκαπνα, poet. δανά, κάγκανα). A word adopted from the Greek language and employed to designate fire-wood which had undergone a preparation to prevent it from smoking when placed upon the fire. Smokeless wood of this description was prepared in three different ways: 1st. by peeling off the bark, then soaking it a long time in water, and finally suffering it to dry thoroughly before it was used. (Theophrast. Hist. Plant. xv. 10.) The effect of this process is now well known, as it has been found that wood conveyed by water in floats burns more briskly and throws out less smoke than that which has been transported by land carriage merely: 2d. by soaking it in oil, or oil-lees, or by pouring oil over it (Cato, R.R. 130. Plin. H.N. xv. 8.): 3d. by hardening and scorching it over the fire until it lost the greater part of its moisture, without being entirely reduced to charcoal; this last was also designated by a special name Cocta or Coctilia. Mart. Ep. xiii. 15.

2. Acapnon mel. Honey taken from the hive without smoking the bees, which was considered the best kind of honey. Columell. vi. 33. 2. Plin. H.N. xi. 15.