Lewis & Short

pāgus, i (old

  1. I. gen. PAGEIEI, which prob. is an error for PAGEI, Inscr. Orell. 3793), m. [root pak-, pag-, to make fast or firm, whence pango, pax, pagina; Gr. πήγνυμι, πάγος, etc.; prop., a place with fixed boundaries; hence], a district, canton, province (opp. to the city), the country (cf. vicus): paganalia (feriae sunt eorum) qui sunt aliquoius pagi, Varr. L. L. 6, § 24; cf. id. ib. § 26 Müll.: Lemonia tribus a pago Lemonio appellata est, Paul. ex Fest. p. 15: pagos et compita circum, Verg. G. 2, 382: omissis pagis vicisque, Tac. A. 1, 56: MAGISTER PAGI, a country magistrate, Inscr. Orell. 3793 sq.: si me toto laudet vicinia pago, Juv. 14, 154.
    Of the districts, cantons, of the Gauls and Germans: in Galliā … in omnibus pagis partibusque, Caes. B. G. 6, 11; 1, 12; 4, 1; 22; 6, 23; 7, 64; Tac. G. 39: cum Alamannorum pagos aliquos esse reputaret hostiles, Amm. 18, 2, 1.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. The country people: festus in pratis vacat otioso Cum bove pagus, Hor. C. 3, 18, 11: pagus agat festum, Ov. F. 1, 669.
    2. B. Novem Pagi, a city in Belgic Gaul, now Dieuze, Amm. 16, 2, 9 (al. Decem Pagi).