Lewis & Short

urna, ae, f. [prop. a vessel of burnt clay; root uro], a vessel for drawing water, a water-pot, water-jar, urn.

  1. I. Lit.: urnae dictae, quod urinant in aquā hauriendā ut urinator, Varr. L. L. 5, § 126 Müll.; Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 24; Prop. 4 (5), 4, 16; 4 (5), 11, 28; Ov. F. 3, 14; id. M. 3, 37; 3, 172; Hor. C. 3, 11, 22; id. S. 1, 5, 91; 1, 1, 54.
    As an attribute of personified rivers, Verg. A. 7, 792; Sil. 1, 407.
    Of the constellation Aquarius, Ov. F. 2, 457; Sen. Thyest. 865.
  2. II. Transf., in gen., an urn used for any purpose.
    1. A. Most freq., a vessel into which were thrown the voting-tablets or lots of any kind.
      1. 1. A voting-urn (syn. sitella): senatorum urna copiose absolvit, equitum adaequavit, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 6, 6; Ov. M. 15, 44; Prop. 4 (5), 11, 49; Hor. S. 2, 1, 47; Sil. 9, 27; Juv. 13, 4: educit ex urnā tres (judices), Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 17, § 42; Suet. Ner. 21; Verg. A. 6, 22; Val. Fl. 2, 484; Sen. Contr. 1, 2, § 7; Just. 22, 3, 6; Plin. Ep. 10, 20, 2; Sen. Troad. 974; Tert. Spect. 16.
      2. 2. The urn of fate, from which is drawn the lot of every one’s destiny: omnium Versatur urna serius ocius Sors exitura, Hor. C. 2, 3, 26: omne capax movet urna nomen, id. ib. 3, 1, 16; Verg. A. 6, 432; Stat. S. 2, 1, 219: nomina in urnam coicere, Liv. 23, 3, 7; Plin. Ep. 10, 3, 2.
    2. B. A vessel to hold the ashes of the dead, a cinerary urn, Ov. H. 11, 124; id. M. 4, 166; 11, 706; 12, 616; 14, 441; id. Tr. 3, 3, 65; Suet. Calig. 15; Luc. 7, 819; Sen. Troad. 375.
    3. C. A money-pot, money-jar: argenti, Hor. S. 2, 6, 10.
    4. D. A liquid measure containing half an amphora, an urn, Cato, R. R. 148, 1; Col. 12, 41; Plin. 17, 28, 47, § 263; Pers. 5, 144.
      1. 2. A measure in gen., Cato, R. R. 10, 2; 13, 3; Juv. 15, 25.