Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Capisterium

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

CAPISTE'RIUM. A vessel employed for cleansing the ears of corn after they had been threshed out and winnowed. It appears to have been something in the nature of an alveus, or wooden trough, into which the corn was put and shaken up, so that the heavy grains subsided to the bottom, while the light ones and any refuse admixture which might have been left amongst them after the winnowing, rose to the top, and could be easily separated from the rest. Possibly also water was employed in the operation. Columell. ii. 9. 11. Compare Apul. Met. ix. p. 193.