Lewis & Short

2. prōcinctus, ūs, m. [procingo, prop. a girding up; hence, transf.], milit. t. t.,

  1. I. a being prepared or equipped for battle, readiness for action: procinctum, [?(/OTAN EI)S PO/LEMON SUGKALE/SWNTAI ?], Gloss. Philox.: oratorem armatum semper ac velut in procinctu stantem, Quint. 12, 9, 21; cf. id. 10, 1, 2: neque in procinctu et castris habitos, Tac. H. 3, 2: in procinctu bellorum excubare, Plin. 6, 19, 22, § 66: testamentum facere in procinctu, to make one’s will on the battle-field (one of the three ways of making a will), Cic. de Or. 1, 53, 228; id. N. D. 2, 3, 9; Gell. 15, 27, 2 sq.; Gai. Inst. 2, 101; Just. Inst. 2, 10.
    Prov.: in procinctu habere aliquid, to have a thing ready or at hand: severitatem abditam, clementiam in procinctu habeo, Sen. Clem. 1, 1, 4; cf.: nisi in procinctu paratamque ad omnes casus habuerit eloquentiam, Quint. 10, 1, 2.
  2. II. Transf., a military enterprise (late Lat.): et Lentiensibus indictum est bellum; ad quem procinctum imperator egressus, Amm. 15, 4, 1; 15, 9, 1.
    1. B. Esp., a battle, an engagement: procinctu omisso, Amm. 17, 9, 1; 27, 4, 1: post procinctus ancipites, id. 27, 4, 11: in procinctu versari, Dig. 37, 13, 1.