Lewis & Short

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† ăbăcus, i (according to Prisc. 752 P. also ăbax, ăcis; cf. id. p. 688), m., = ἄβαξ, ᾰκος, prop. a square tublet; hence, in partic.,

  1. I. A sideboard, the top of which was made of marble, sometimes of silver, gold, or other precious material, chiefly used for the display of gold and silver vessels, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 16, § 35; 2, 4, 25, § 57; id. Tusc. 5, 21, 61; Varr. L. L. 9, § 46 Müll.; Plin. 37, 2, 6, § 14; Juv. 3, 2-0-4: perh. also called mensae Delphicae, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 59 init. Zumpt; Mart. 12, 67. Accord. to Liv. 39, 6, 7, and Plin. 34, 3, 8, § 14, Cn. Manlius Vulso flrst brought them from Asia to Rome, B.C. 187, in his triumph over the Galatae; cf. Becker, Gall. 2, p. 258 (2d edit.).
  2. II. A gaming-board, divided into compurtments, for playing with dice or counters, Suet. Ner. 22; Macr. S. 1, 5.
  3. III. A counting-table, covered with sand or dust, and used for arithmetical computation, Pers. 1, 131; App. Mag. p. 284; cf. Becker, Gall. 2, p. 65.
  4. IV. A wooden tray, Cato, R. R. 10, 4.
  5. V. A painted panel or square compariment in the wall or ceiling of a chamber, Vitr. 7, 3, 10; Plin. 33, 12, 56, § 159; 35, 1, 1, § 3, and 35, 6, 13, § 32.
  6. VI. In architecture, a fiat, square stone on the top of a column, immediately under the architrare, Vitr. 3, 5, 5 sq.; 4, 1, 11 sq.