cella, ae, f. [cf. celo, oc-cul-o, clam, v. Varr. L. L. 5, 33, 45; Fest. p. 50], a storeroom, chamber.
- I. In agricult. lang., a place for depositing grain or fruits, or for the abode of animals, a granary, stall, etc.: olearia, vinaria, penaria, etc., Cato, R. R. 3, 2; Varr. R. R. 1, 11, 2; Col. 1, 6, 9; 12, 18, 3; Cic. Sen. 16, 56; id. Verr. 2, 2, 2, § 5; 2, 3, 87, § 200 sq. al.; cf. id. Pis. 27, 67; Verg. G. 2, 96; Hor. C. 1, 37, 6; id. S. 2, 8, 46; Vitr. 6, 9: columbarum, dovecotes, Col. 8, 8, 3: anserum, id. 8, 14, 9.
Also of the cells of bees, Verg. G. 4, 164; id. A. 1, 433; Plin. 11, 11, 10, § 26.
Hence, dare, emere, imperare aliquid in cellam, to furnish, purchase, procure the things necessary for a house, for the kitchen, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 87, § 201 sq.; id. Div. in Caecil. 10, 30.
Facetiously: cella promptuaria = carcer, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 4; cf. id. ib. 1, 1, 3: reliqui in ventre cellae uni locum, Plaut. Curc. 3, 17.-
- II. Transf., of the small, simple dwelling apartments of men, a chamber, closet, cabinet, hut, cot, etc., Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 13; esp. of servants, Cato, R. R. 14: ostiarii, the porter’s lodge, Vitr. 6, 10; Petr. 29, 1; 77, 4; and of slaves, Cic. Phil. 2, 27, 67; Hor. S. 1, 8, 8 al.
Of a poor man’s garret, Mart. 7, 20, 21; 8, 14, 5: cella pauperis, a chamber for self-denial, etc., Sen. Ep. 18, 7; 100, 6; cf. Mart. 3, 48.
- B. The part of a temple in which the image of a god stood, the chapel, Vitr. 3, 1; 4, 1; Cic. Phil. 3, 12, 30; Liv. 5, 50, 6; 6, 29, 9 al.
- C. An apartment in a bathing-house, Plin. Ep. 2, 17, 11; Pall. 1, 40, 4; Veg. 2, 6, 3.
- D. A room in a brothel, Petr. 8, 4; Juv. 6, 122; 6, 128: inscripta, Mart. 11, 45, 1.