Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Stigma

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. 

STIG'MA (στίγμα). Literally, a mark made by puncture; whence, a brand, or mark pricked into (scriptum and inscriptum, Quint. vii. 4. 14. Sen. Ben. iv. 47.), or stamped upon (impressum, Pet. Sat. 105. 11.), the forehead of a slave (Id. 103. 2. and 4.), convicted of thieving, running away, &c. A single letter, such as F, for fur, might in some cases be deemed sufficient for the purpose; but the last passage cited from Petronius expressly mentions an entire word, if not a sentence, in large letters covering the face.

2. A mark pricked into the arm of conscripts (Veg. Mil. i. 8. Id. ii. 5.) after they had been approved as capable of military duty, in order that they might be called out when required; and likewise upon labourers employed in the state factories to prevent them from deserting their employments, and accepting work from other masters. (Impp. Arcad. et Honor. Cod. 11. 9. 3.) The same was sometimes pricked on the hand. Imp. Zeno Cod. 42. 10.