columella

1.

cŏlŭmella (in MSS. often cŏlum-nella ), ae, f. dim. [columna, columen], a small column, a pillar, Cato, R. R. 20, 1; 22, 2; Cic. Leg. 2, 26, 66; id. Tusc. 5, 23, 65; Caes. B. C. 2, 10.—

B.

The foot or pedestal of a catapult, Vitr. 10, 15.—

II.

Trop., a pillar, support, prop (cf. columen), Lucil. ap. Don. Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 57.

2.

Cŏlŭmella, ae, m., a Roman cognomen in the gens Junia; so,

I.

M. Junius Moderatus Columella, of Hispania Bœtica, uncle of the following. —

II.

L. Junius Moderatus Columella, a well-known writer on husbandry, in the first century of the Christian era. He was of Gades, and a companion of Seneca and Celsus; his writings, De Re Rustica and De Arboribus, are yet extant; v. Schneid. Scriptt. Rei Rust. II. 2 praef.; Col. 7, 2, 4; 7, 10, 185; Plin. 8, 41, 63, § 153; 17, 9, 6, §§ 51 and 52; Pall. 1, 19, 3.