Lewis & Short

praeda, ae (old abl. sing. PRAEDAD. Inscr. Col. Rostr.), f. [for praehenda, from praehendo, v. prehendo], property taken in war, booty, spoil, plunder, pillage (syn.: exuviae, spolium).

  1. I. Lit.: praedā exercitus undat, Enn. ap. Serv. ad Verg. G. 2, 437 (Ann. v. 320 Vahl.): praedas ac manubias in urbis ornamenta conferre, Cic. Agr. 2, 23, 61; cf. manubiae, and the passages there cited with praeda; so plur.: praedarum in parte repertā frangebat pocula, Juv. 11, 101.
    Mostly sing.: praeda ante parta, Cic. Prov. Cons. 11, 28: praedam capere de praedonibus Plaut. Truc. 1, 2, 14: praedam militibus donare, Caes. B. G. 7, 11 fin.: victores praedā spoliisque potiti, Verg. A. 9, 450.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. An animal, bird, etc., caught or killed in the chase; prey, game (poet. and in postAug. prose): cervi luporum praeda rapacium, Hor. C. 4, 4, 50; Phaedr. 1, 5; Verg. A. 3, 223; Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 219; of fishing, Plaut. Rud. 4, 2, 4; Ov. M. 13, 936: in saltu venantur aves; hinc praeda cubili Ponitur, Juv. 14, 82.
      Prov.: praeda canum lepus est, Mart. 1, 22, 5.
      Transf., of a person, prey, Plaut. Ps. 4, 7, 23; Ov. H. 15, 51.
    2. B. In gen., booty, spoil, gain, profit: illa, quae empta ex praedā est, Plaut. Ep. 5, 1, 2; 15; 3, 3, 13: adeste, sultis, praeda erit praesentium, id. Stich. 1, 3, 67: maximos quaestus praedasque facere, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 50, § 119; Hor. S. 2, 3, 68: ostendit praedam, treasure trove, Phaedr. 5, 6, 4: a quibus magnas praedas Agesilaus faciebat, from which Agesilaus drew great advantage, Nep. Chabr. 2, 3; cf. Plin. 26, 1, 3, § 4.