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03-19-2003, 11:34 AM

N 
 
Natalis aquilae (LA): birthday of the eagle; military holiday. 
Natio (LA): 'nation'; barbarian auxiliary force. 
Navis (LA): ship. 
Navis longa (LA): 'longship'; warship. 
Navis oneraria (LA): transport vessel. 
Navis praetoria (LA): flag ship. 
Navis speculatoria (LA): scouting ship. 
Nauta (LA): sailor. 
Nauarchus (LA): ship's captain; naval officer. 
Nauclarius (LA): late Roman marine. 
Nauphylax (LA): ship's guard. 
Naupegus (LA): ship's carpenter. 
Nobiscum Deus (LA): 'God with us'; late Roman/Byzantine battle cry. 
Nomen Latinum (LA): 'Latin name'; league of Latin allies. 
Notae (LA): 'symbols'; short hand writing. 
Notarius (LA): secretary. 
Numerarius (LA): administrative official; clerk. 
Numerus (LA): military unit. 
Numerus collatus (LA): provisional unit. 
Numerus peregrinorum (LA): provisional unit of soldiers based at the castra peregrina (LA) at Rome. 
Numerus statorum praetorianorum (LA): unit of praetorian military police. 
 
 
 
 
O 
 
Obelos (GR): 'spit'; the long iron point of a pilum (LA) or soliferreum (LA) javelin. 
Obsidio (LA): siege. 
Ocrea (LA): greave. 
Officialis (LA): member of administrative staff. 
Officium (LA): (1) staff; (2) office. 
Officium rationum (LA): accounting office. 
Oikeios (GR): organic; incorporated into permanent strucure of a military unit. 
OiketÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s (GR): household retainer; private bodyguard. 
Onager (LA): 'wild ass'; torsion gun. 
Onagros (GR): 'wild ass'; torsion gun. 
Opera vacans (LA): soldier exempt from fatigue duty; first century AD term for the type of soldier called an immunis (LA) from the second century AD on. 
Oppidum (LA): fortified town. 
Oppugnatio (LA): assault. 
Optimas (LA): (1) noble, war lord; (2) Byzantine horse guard. 
Optimates (LA): Byzantine elite cavalry force. 
Optime Maxime, conserva numerus omnium militantium (LA): Best and Greatest, protect the collective of all serving soldiers; motto used on military equipment.. 
Optio (LA): 'chosen one'; (1) NCO; (2) private with special responsibilities. 
Optio ad carcerem (LA): chosen man on prison duty. 
Optio ad spem ordinis (LA): NCO selected for promotion to centurionate. 
Optio candidatus (LA): NCO singled out for promotion to rank of centurio (LA). 
Optio carceris (LA): NCO in charge of the prison cells. 
Optio centuriae (LA): 'chosen men of the company'; NCO serving as rearrank officer of a centuria, in the imperial army classed as a duplicarius (LA), a NCO on double basic pay. 
Optio centurionis (LA): 'chosen man of the centurion'; NCO serving as rearrank officer of a centuria. 
Optio custodiarum (LA): optio (LA) in charge of guard posts. 
Optio draconarius (LA): chosen man among the dragon bearers; late Roman senior standardbearer. 
Optio equitum (LA): NCO of the legionary or praetorian horsemen. 
Optio fabricae (LA): soldier or NCO in charge of a work shop. 
Optio navaliorum (LA): NCO or specialist soldier in charge of boats. 
Optio praetorii (LA): specialist soldier or NCO attached to headquarters. 
Optio principalis (LA): NCO; not all optiones were noncommissioned officers, called principales from the second century on. 
Optio speculatorum (LA): NCO of elite cavalry bodyguards. 
Optio spei (LA): NCO selected for promotion to centurionate. 
Optio statorum (LA): NCO of military constabulary. 
Optio tribuni (LA): assistant to tribune. 
Optio valetudinarii (LA): orderly in charge of hospital. 
Optioon (GR): NCO. 
Opus (LA): work; job; task. 
Ordinarius/Ordinatus (LA): centurion. 
Ordinatio (LA): (1) battle deployment; (2) commissioning as centurio (LA). 
Ordo (LA): (1) battle line; (2) military unit; (3) post of centurio (LA). 
Ordo equester (LA): the equestrian order: originally the class of wealthy citizens from which the cavalry was recruited, later the class from which many senior officers were drawn. 
Origo (LA): origin. 
Origo castris (LA): 'born in the camp'; soldier originating from civilian settlement adjacent to an army base. 
Oothismos (GR): the shoving between two phalanges (GR). 
Ouetranos (GR): veteran; discharged soldier. 
Ouexillatioon (GR): detachment; provisional unit; Greek term for vexillatio (LA). 
Ornithoboros (GR): 'bird carrier'; unarmed Byzantine NCO who apparently no longer carried an eagle standard. 
Oulamos (GR): squadron; cavalry unit. 
Ouragos (GR): rearrank officer; optio (LA). 
Otium castrorum (LA): time off-duty. 
Ovatio (LA): triumphal entry for victorious commander. 
OxybelÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s (GR): torsion gun. 
 
 
 
 
P 
 
Pabulatio (LA): collection of fodder. 
Paenula (LA): cloak. 
Pachos hyssos (GR): thick javelin; heavier variant of pilum (LA). 
PalaistratiootÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s (GR): veteran. 
Palatinus (LA): soldier belonging to late Roman field army. 
Paludamentum (LA): officers' cloak. 
Palus (LA): stake used as target for weapons training. 
Panis militaris (LA): military bread. 
Panoplia (LA): armour. 
Papilio (LA): 'butterfly'; tent. 
Parazonium (LA): sword carried by senior officers. 
Parma (LA): usually round buckler. 
Parma equestris (LA): cavalry shield. 
ParmÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨ (GR): usually round buckler. 
Parmula (LA): small round shield. 
Pectorale (LA): body armour. 
Pecuarius (LA): soldier attending to live stock. 
Pedatura (LA): infantry. 
Pedes (LA): foot soldier. 
Pedes singularis (LA): auxiliary infantry guardsman. 
Peditatus (LA): infantry. 
Pelekophoros (GR): axeman. 
Pelekus (GR): battle-axe or war hammer. 
Pellis (LA): animal skin. 
PeltastÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s (GR): skirmisher equipped with light shield. 
PeltÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨ (GR): light shield. 
PentÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨rÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s (GR): quinquereme; galley with five oarsmen on either two or three levels. 
Peregrinus (LA): (1) freeborn provincial without Roman citizenship; (2) soldier attached to castra peregrina (LA). 
Perfuga (LA): turncoat. 
Perikephalaios (GR): helmet. 
Pes (LA): foot; length unit of either 294 mm or 332 mm. 
Petitor (LA): equstrian requesting military posting. 
PezakontistÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s (GR): infantry javelineer. 
Pezos (GR): infantryman. 
Phalangarius (LA): foot soldier trained in Macedonian phalanx tactics. 
PhalangitÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s (GR): infantry man in phalanx (GR). 
Phalanx (GR): (1) close formation of heavy armed infantry equipped with spears and round shields; (2) battle line; (3) legion. 
Phalarica (LA): spear. 
Phalera (LA): decorative disc. 
Phalerae (LA): set of discs used as military decorations. 
Pharetra (LA/GR): quiver. 
Phederatos (GR): allied soldier. 
Phrouria (GR): guard post. 
Phrouros (GR): guard. 
Phylax (GR): guard; sentry. 
Phylax tÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s chooras (GR): 'guardian of the land'; militia soldier; police man. 
Pia (LA): dutiful. 
Pilanus (LA): equivalent for triarius (LA). 
Pilos hysteros (GR): centurion; Greek equivalent of pilus posterior (LA). 
Pilleus Pannonicus (LA): 'Pannonian cap'; late Roman military cap. 
Pilum (LA): heavy javelin with long metal shank. 
Pilum murale (LA): 'wall javelin'; term nowadays often incorrectly used to designate pallisade stakes. 
Pilum praepilatum (LA): training weapon tipped with a ball to prevent injury. 
Pilus (LA): equivalent for triarius (LA). 
Pilus posterior (LA): deputy to pilus prior (LA). 
Pilus prior (LA): centurion commanding a manipulus (LA) of pili (LA). 
Pittakion (GR): chit; warrant. 
Pitulus (LA): drummer; used on ships to set the pace for the rowers. 
Planata (LA): flat shield. 
PlÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨rooma (GR): ship's crew. 
Plinthion (GR): catapult frame. 
Plumbata (LA): lead weighted dart. 
Pluteus (LA): protective screen. 
PoliorketÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¨s (GR): besieger. 
Poliorkia (GR): siege. 
Pomerium (LA): sacred boundary of the city of Rome within which the wearing of war gear was prohibited. 
Popanum (LA): republican era cavalry shield shaped like a sacrifical cake. 
Populus (LA): 'people'; part of the population with military service obligations, the people-in-arms. 
Populus Romanus (LA): 'the Roman people'; Roman citizen body with service obligations. 
Porta (LA): gate. 
Porta decumana (LA): gate opposite porta praetoria (LA), originally near the spot where the tenth manipuli (LA) of an army were camped. 
Porta praetoria (LA): gate facing the enemy. 
Porta principalis dextra (LA): right side gate. 
Porta principalis sinistra (LA): left side gate. 
Postsignanus (LA): soldier fighting behind the standards; legionary heavy infantry soldier. 
Praeco (LA): herald. 
Praeda (LA): spoils; plunder. 
Praefectus (LA): senior officer. 
Praefectus alae (LA): commander of a cavalry regiment. 
Praefectus castrorum (LA): camp commandant. 
Praefectus cohortis (LA): commander of a cohors (LA). 
Praefectus classis (LA): fleet commander. 
Praefectus equitatus (LA): cavalry commander. 
Praefectus equitum (LA): cavalry commander. 
Praefectus fabrum (LA): officer in charge of artisans. 
Praefectus legionis (LA): equestrian legionary commander. 
Praefectus legionis agens vice legati (LA): equestrian acting legionary commander. 
Praefectus praetorio (LA): equestrian commander of cohortes praetoriae (LA). 
Praefectus sociorum (LA): Roman officer appointed to a command function in an ala sociorum (LA). 
Praefectus urbanus (LA): city prefect. 
Praefectus vigilum (LA): commander of the vigiles (LA). 
Praemia (LA): discharge benefits. 
Praemia militiae (LA): discharge benefits. 
Praenomen imperatoris (LA): first name of the emperor; all emperors carried Imperator, Commander-in-chief, as their praenomen (LA). 
Praepositus (LA): commander. 
Praepositus copiarum (LA): supply offical. 
Praepositus horrei (LA): official in charge of the granary. 
Praeses (LA): equestrian provincial governor. 
Praesidium (LA): military outpost; fort. 
Praetensio (LA): military post; fort. 
Praetensione colligare (LA): to fortify; to strengthen with military posts. 
Praetentura (LA): forward part of the camp in front of the praetorium (LA). 
Praetor (LA): (1) senior Roman magistrate; during republic commander of minor military forces; (2) commander of allied contingent. 
Praetorianus (LA): soldier belonging to a cohors praetoria (LA). 
Praetorium (LA): commander's living quarters; HQ. 
Praeventor (LA): late Roman skirmisher. 
Praiphektos (LA): officer; Greek transliteration of praefectus (LA). 
Praipositos (GR): commander. 
Prata legionis (LA): fields or meadows reserved for the use of the legion. 
Pretium annonae (LA): ration allowance. 
Pridianum (LA): monthly or yearly strength report. 
Primanus (LA): soldier belonging to legio I. 
Primicerius (LA): late Roman officer. 
Primipilaris (LA): former primus pilus (LA). 
Primiscrinius (LA): senior administrator. 
Primus ordo (LA): 'first officer'; centurion of the first cohort, whose officers outranked the other centuriones of the legion. 
Primus pilus (LA): 'first spearman'; highest ranking legionary centurio (LA). 
Primus pilus bis (LA): 'first spearman for the second time'; senior centurion serving a second stint. 
Primus pilus iterum (LA): centurion serving second term as primus pilus (LA). 
Princeps (LA): 'leader'; (1) legionary heavy infantry soldier; (2) centurion in command of unit or administrative office. 
Princeps ordinarius vexillationis (LA): centurion in command of a detachment. 
Princeps peregrinorum (LA): 'commander of the foreigners'; centurio (LA) in charge of troops in the castra peregrina (LA). 
Princeps posterior (LA): deputy to princeps prior (LA). 
Princeps praetorii (LA): centurion attached to headquarters. 
Princeps prior (LA): centurion commanding a manipulus (LA) of principes (LA). 
Principalis (LA): NCO. 
Principia (LA): HQ building. 
Privatus (LA): citizen without official capacity. 
Privatus cum imperio (LA): citizen granted extraordinary powers without holding office as magistrate. 
Privilegium (LA): privilege, perk. 
Probatio (LA): examination. 
Probatoria (LA): enrolment document. 
Probatus (LA): recruit deemed fit for service. 
Procinctus (LA): military readiness. 
Proconsul (LA): former consul (LA) exercising similar imperium (LA) after his term of office; provincial governor. 
Procursator (LA): advanced skirmisher. 
Proditor (LA): traitor. 
Proelium (LA): combat. 
Proletarius (LA): Roman citizen unable to meet property requirements for military service. 
Promachos (GR): soldier belonging to the first battle line. 
Propagator imperii (LA): extender of the empire. 
Propraetor (LA): former praetor exercising similar imperium after his term of office; provincial governor. 
Propugnator (LA): 'frontrank fighter';(1) elite soldier;(2) marine. 
Proreta (LA): assistant helmsman. 
Protector (LA): (1) bodyguard; (2) staff officer. 
Protector divini lateris (LA): late Roman staff officer. 
Protector domesticus (LA): 'household bodyguard'; late Roman staff officer. 
Protostasia (GR): recruiting tax levied on landownership. 
Provincia (LA): province; area of responsibility. 
Provincia inermis (LA): 'unarmed province'; province without a permanent legionary garrison. 
Psilos (GR): light infantryman. 
Pterophoros (GR): 'feather bearer'; messenger. 
Pteryges (GR): 'wings'; leather or linen strips for the protection of upper arms and thighs. 
Pugio (LA): dagger. 
Pugna (LA): fight; battle. 
Pugnator (LA): fighter; warrior. 
Punctim ferire (LA): to stab (with a sword). 
 
 
 
 
Q 
 
Quadrata (LA): rectangular shield. 
Quadrieris (LA): warship with four rowers on two levels. 
Quadriga falcata (LA): scythed chariot. 
Quaestionarius (LA): interrogator; torturer. 
Quaestor (LA): (1) state official with financial responsibilities; (2) soldier of financial administrative department. 
Quarta militia (LA): fourth equestrian military post involving command of an ala milliaria (LA). 
Qui ordines sequentur (LA): 'the ones who follow the centurions'; the NCO's. 
'Quincunx' (LA): modern term for the chequerboard manipular battle order resembling the five dots on dice; note that this was NOT a term used by the ancient Romans for this type of battle deployment. 
Quingenaria (LA): five hundred strong. 
Quinquatria (LA): religious festival that opened campaigning season. 
Quinqueremis (LA): 'fiver'; quinquereme; ship with five rowers on either two or three levels. 
 
Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=sandervandorst@romanarmytalk>Sander van Dorst</A> at: 4/20/03 7:25:14 pm

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