Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Calculus

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

CAL'CULUS (ψῆφος). Literally a pebble, or small stone worn round by friction, which was employed by the ancients for several purposes, as follows: —

1. For mosaic work. Plin. H. N. xxxvi. 67.

2. A counter for reckoning. Cic. Amic. 16. preceding wood-cut, and ABACUS.

3. A pebble used in voting, which was thrown into the urn; a white one to acquit, and a black one to condemn. Ovid. Met. xv. 41.

4. A counter employed in games of chance or skill, for the same purpose as our chess and draughtsmen; and the term is applied indiscriminately to the men employed in the ludus duodecim scriptorum, or backgammon, and in the ludus latrunculorum, or draughts. Ov. Am. ii. 207. Val. Max. viii. 8. 2. Aul. Gell. xiv. 1. 9.