Lewis & Short

verna, ae, comm. [root vas, to dwell; Sanscr. vāstu, house; Gr. ἄστυ, city], a slave born in his master’s house, a homeborn slave.

  1. I. Lit.: vernas alere, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 104; id. Am. 1, 1, 24; Just. 38, 6, 7; Val. Max. 3, 4, 3; Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 15, 2; Hor. Epod. 2, 65; id. S. 1, 2, 117; 2, 6, 66.
    In gen. fem., Inscr. Orell. 1320.
    Such slaves were trained up as buffoons or jesters, Mart. 1, 42, 2; cf. Sen. Prov. 1, 6; and v. vernilitas.
    As a term of abuse, Plaut. Am. 4, 2, 13.
  2. II. Transf., a native: de plebe Remi Numaeque verna, Jucundus, etc., Mart. 10, 76, 4; cf.: Romanos vernas appellabant, id est ibidem natos, Fest. p. 372 Müll.
    Hence,
    1. B. Adj.: ver-nus, a, um, native: apri, Mart. 1, 50, 24: lupi, id. 10, 30, 21: tuberes, id. 13, 43, 2: liber, i. e. written in Rome, id. 3, 1, 6.