Lewis & Short

† cădus, i (gen. plur. cadūm, v. II. infra), m., = κάδος [Slav. kad, kadĭ; Serv. kada; Magyar, kád; Rouman. Kadŭ].

  1. I. Lit., a large vessel for containing liquids, esp. wine; a bottle, jar, jug; mostly of earthen-ware, but sometimes of stone, Plin. 36, 22, 43, § 158; or even of metal, Verg. A. 6, 228.
    1. A. A wine-jar, wine-flask: cadi = vasa, quibus vina conduntur, Non. p. 544, 11: cadus erat vini: inde implevi hirneam, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 273; so id. As. 3, 3, 34; id. Aul. 3, 6, 35; id. Mil. 3, 2, 36; 3, 2, 37; id. Poen. 1, 2, 47; id. Stich. 3, 1, 24: cadum capite sistere, to upset, id. Mil. 3, 2, 36: vertere, id. Stich. 5, 4, 39; 5, 4, 1: vina bonus quae deinde cadis onerarat Acestes, Verg. A. 1, 195: fragiles, Ov. M. 12, 243.
      Hence poet., wine: Chius, Tib. 2, 1, 28; Hor. C. 3, 19, 5: nec Parce cadis tibi destinatis, id. ib. 2, 7, 20; 3, 14, 18.
    2. B. For other uses: for containing honey, Mart. 1, 56, 10; oil, id. 1, 44, 8; hence, olearii, oil-jars, Plin. 18, 30, 73, § 307; for fruits, id. ib.; figs, id. 15, 19, 21, § 82; aloes, id. 27, 4, 5, § 14; cf. id. 16, 8, 13, § 34.
      As a money-pot, Mart. 6, 27, 6; also = urna, a funeral urn: aënus, Verg. A. 6, 228 Heyne.
  2. II. Transf., a measure for liquids (in this sense, gen. plur. cadum, Lucil. and Varr. ap. Non. p. 544, 13 and 16; Plin. 14, 14, 17, § 96); syn. with amphora Attica (usu. = 1 1/2 amphorae, or 3 urnae, or 4 1/2 modii, or 12 congii, or 72 sextarii), Rhemn. Fann. Ponder. 84; Plin. 14, 15, 17, § 96 sq.; Isid. Orig. 16, 26, 13.