Lewis & Short

caespĕs (not cespes), ĭtis, m. [caesus, caedo].

  1. I. A turf, sod as cut out: caespes est terra in modum lateris caesa cum herba, sive frutex recisus et truncus, Paul. ex Fest. p. 45 Müll.: caespes χορτόπλινθος, χορτόβωλος, πλίνθος, Gloss.: non esse arma caespites, neque glebas, * Cic. Caecin. 21, 60.
    Used for altars, mounds (of tombs), for covering cottages, huts, etc., Hor. C. 1, 19, 13; Ov. Tr. 5, 5, 9; id. M. 4, 753; 7, 240; 15, 573; Verg. A. 3, 304; Tac. G. 27; id. A. 1, 62; Verg. E. 1, 69 Voss; Sen. Ep. 8, 5; Luc. 1, 512; 3, 387; Suet. Aug. 24.
    1. B. Meton.
      1. 1. A cot, hut, hovel, shed: nec fortuitum spernere caespitem, Hor. C. 2, 15, 17.
      2. 2. An altar: positusque carbo Caespite vivo, Hor. C. 3, 8, 4; Juv. 12, 2; Tac. H. 4, 53; App. Flor. n. 1,
      3. 3. Any object of similar form, a knot, knob, Plin. 17, 21, 35, § 153.
      4. 4. A clump, group of plants, Plin. 21, 7, 20, § 43; Verg. G. 4, 273 Forbig. ad loc.
  2. II. In gen.
    1. A. A grassy field, a green field, turf, Verg. A. 11, 566: de caespite virgo se levat, Ov. M. 2, 427; 4, 301; 10, 556; 13, 931: sedere in caespite nudo, Suet. Tib. 18; Stat. Th. 12, 328; Petr. 120, 72; Plin. 16, 31, 56, § 128; 17, 4, 3, § 26.
    2. B. Late Lat., the earth, ground, in gen., Avien. Perieg. 227; 388.