Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Runcatio

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

RUNCA'TIO (βοτανισμός). The act of thinning out and weeding young crops, by removing the weakly or over thick plants and weeds, which choke up and draw off nourishment from the rest. (Columell. ii. 12. 9. Plin. H. N. xviii. 50.) This operation was usually performed after the hoeing (sarritio. Columell. ii. 11. 9.), and was conducted chiefly by the hand (Id. v. 6. 7.), with the assistance of a crooked weeding-hook (runco), for the removal of any stubborn roots or weeds amongst the plants.