Lewis & Short

† săgum, i, n. (ante-class. collat. form săgus, i, m., corresp. to the Greek, Enn. and Varr. ap. Non. 223, 30 sq.; Afran. ap. Charis. p. 81 P.;

  1. I. fem.: sagas caerulas, Enn. ap. Charis. p. 81 P.; but it would perh. be more correct to read sagos caerulos; cf. Enn. p. 182, 54 Vahl.), = σάγος [acc. to Polybius, a Celtic word, whence the Engl. shag], a coarse woollen blanket or mantle (cf. laena), e. g. of servants, Cato, R. R. 59; Col. 1, 8, 9; Dig. 34, 2, 23 fin.; of the Germans, Tac. G. 17; for horses, Veg. Vet. 1, 42, 4; 3, 15, 16; but most freq. of soldiers, a military cloak: valde metuo ne frigeas in hibernis … praesertim qui sagis non abundares, Cic. Fam. 7, 10, 2; Caes. B. C. 1, 75; Liv. 10, 30 fin.: saga fibulatoria, Treb. Pol. Trig. Tyr. 10.
    Hence, saga is a sign of war (as toga is a sign of peace) in the phrases:
        1. a. Saga sumere, to put on the saga, i.q. to take up arms, prepare for battle (it was the custom for all Romans to do this, in token of preparation for war, even those who were not going to the field, excepting persons of consular rank; cf. Cic. Phil. 8, 11, 32; id. Fragm. ap. Non. 538, 27): tumultum decerni, justitium edici, saga sumi dico oportere, delectum habere, etc., id. Phil. 5, 12, 31; 14, 1, 2; Liv. Epit. 72: terrā marique victus hostis punico Lugubre mutavit sagum, Hor. Epod. 9, 28; in sing., of an individual: tum iste (Verres) excitatus sagum sumit, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 36, § 94.
        2. b. In the same signif.: ad saga ire, Cic. Phil. 14, 1, 1; cf. Vell. 2, 16, 3.
        3. c. In sagis esse, to be under arms: cum est in sagis civitas, Cic. Phil. 8, 11, 32.
        4. d. Saga ponere, to lay down one’s arms, Liv. Epit. 73.
  2. II. In gen. (eccl. Lat.), a covering.
      1. 1. A curtain, tent-cover, Vulg. Exod. 26, 7; 36, 14, etc.
      2. 2. A garment, Vulg. Judic. 3, 16.