Lewis & Short

tābum, i, o, um, n. (masc.: tabum fluentem, Sen. Herc. Oet. 520; cf. Charis. p. 19 P.) [tabes].

  1. I. Lit., corrupt moisture, matter, corruption, putrid gore, etc. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): saxa spargens tabo, sanie et sanguine atro, Enn. ap. Cic. Pis. 19, 43; id. Tusc. 1, 44, 107 (Trag. v. 414 Vahl.); Verg. A. 3, 29; 3, 626; 8, 487; Ov. M. 2, 760; 6, 646; 14, 190; Hor. Epod. 5, 65; Tac. H. 2, 70.
    Gen. tabi, Luc. 6, 547.
    1. * B. Poet., like sanies, of the liquor of the purple-fish, Stat. S. 1, 2, 125.
  2. II. Transf., abstr., an infectious disease, a plague, pest, pestilence (very rare): turpi dilapsa cadavera tabo, Verg. G. 3, 557; cf.: corpora affecta tabo, Liv. 4, 30, 4: pallidaque exsangui squalebant corpora tabo, Ov. M. 15, 627: infecit pabula tabo, Verg. G. 3, 481.