Lewis & Short

pertĭca, ae, f., a pole, a long staff.

  1. I. In gen.: perticam habere … quī verberarem asinos, Plaut. As. 3, 2, 43: pertica suspensos portabat longa maniplos, Ov. F. 3, 117; cf. id. Nuc. 68: perticis oleas decutere, Plin. 15, 3, 3, § 11: messis perticis flagellatur, id. 18, 30, 72, § 298; 16, 37, 68, § 174: perticae, quibus araneae deterguntur, Dig. 33, 7, 12: pertica quā stabuli fores oflirmari solebant, App. M. 7, 28, p. 200.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. A set, slip, young tree; of willows, Plin. 17, 20, 32, § 141.
    2. B. A measuring-rod, with which the grants of land were measured out to the soldiers; a pole, perch (usually called decempeda): abstulit excultas pertica tristis opes, Prop. 4 (5), 1, 130; Val. Cato, Dir. 45; cf. Serv. Verg. Ecl. 9, 7.
        1. b. Transf., a portion of land measured out with the pertica: quodcumque coloniae est assignatum, id universum pertica appellatur, Front. Limit. Agr. p. 43 Goes.
      1. 2. Trop., a measure.
        Prov.: non unā perticā, quod dicitur, Plin. Ep. 8, 2, 8.