Lewis & Short

† thălămus, i, m., = θάλαμος, an inner room, chamber, apartment (poet.).

  1. I. Lit
    1. A. In gen.: Pars secreta domus … Tres habuit thalamos, quorum tu, Pandrose, dextrum, Aglauros laevum, medium possederat Herse, Ov. M. 2, 738: ferreique Eumenidum thalami, Verg. A. 6, 280; cf.: delubra ei gemina, quae vocant thalamos, Plin. 8, 46, 71, § 185; and of bees: ubi jam thalamis se conposuere, Verg. G. 4, 189.
    2. B. Esp., a sleeping-room, bedchamber (cf.: cubiculum, dormitorium, cubile), Verg. A. 6, 623; Ov. M. 10, 456; id. H. 12, 57 al.; cf. Vitr. 6, 10.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. A marriage-bed, bridal-bed (cf.: lectus, conjugium, conubium), Prop. 2, 15 (3, 7), 14; 3, 7 (4, 6), 49; Petr. 26.
      Hence,
    2. B. Transf., marriage, wedlock (very freq. both in sing. and plur.); sing.: thalami expers vitam Degere, Verg. A. 4, 550; cf.: si non pertaesum thalami taedaeque fuisset, id. ib. 4, 18: quantum in conubio natae thalamoque moratur, id. ib. 7, 253; so id. ib. 7, 388; 9, 594; Ov. M. 3, 267; 10, 571; Stat. Th. 5, 463 al.
      Plur.: thalamos ne desere pactos, Verg. A. 10, 649; Ov M. 1, 658; 7, 22; 12, 193; id. Am. 1, 8, 19; id. F. 3, 689; Hor. C. 1, 15, 16; Mart. 10, 63, 7; Sen. Agam. 256; 992; Val. Fl. 1, 226.