Lewis & Short

dēvertĭcŭlum (many MSS. and some edd. dīvert-, old form dēvort-), i, n. [deverto].

  1. I. A by-road, by-path, side-way.
    1. A. Prop.: quae deverticula flexionesque quaesivisti? Cic. Pis. 22, 53; Ter. Eun. 4, 2, 7; Curt. 3, 13, 9; Suet. Ner. 48; Plin. 31, 3, 25, § 42; Front. Aquaed. 5: fluminis, a branch, Dig. 41, 3, 45; 44, 3, 7.
    2. B. Trop., a deviation, digression: legentibus velut deverticula amoena quaerere, Liv. 9, 17; cf. Quint. 10, 1, 29; 9, 2, 79: aquarum calidarum, i. e. a mode of cure (deviating from the simple one) by the use of warm water, Plin. 29, 1, 8, § 23: significationis, derivation, Gell. 4, 9 in lemm.: a deverticulo repetatur fabula, from the digression, Juv. 15, 72: per varia sectarum deverticula, byways of doctrine, Arn. 2, 13.
  2. II. A place for travellers to put up; an inn, a lodging.
    1. A. Prop.: cum gladii abditi ex omnibus locis deverticuli protraherentur, Liv. 1, 51 fin.; also, a resort for low characters: lupanaria et deverticula, Tac. A. 13, 27.
    2. B. Trop., a refuge, retreat, lurking-place, Plaut. Capt. 3, 3, 8; Cic. Part. 39, 136; id. Rosc. Com. 17, 51; Quint. 12, 3, 11; Plin. 10, 50, 71, § 140.