carbo

1.

carbo, ōnis, m. [Sanscr. c)ra, coquere; cf. cremo], a coal, charcoal (dead or burning); of dead coals, Cato, R. R. 38 fin.; Plaut. Truc. 5, 12; Ter. Ad. 5, 3, 63; Varr. R. R. 1, 7, 8 al.—Of glowing, burning coals, Cato, R. R. 108; Plaut. Rud. 2, 6, 48; Lucr. 6, 802; Cic. Off. 2, 7, 25; Plin. 2, 20, 18, § 82; 16, 10, 19, § 45; Hor. C. 3, 8, 3 al.—

II.

Meton.

A.

From the black color of coals are derived the trop. expressions:

impleantur elogiorum meae fores carbonibus,

i.e. with scurrilous verses, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 73:

sanin cretā an carbone notati?

Hor. S, 2, 3, 246; imitated by Pers. 5, 108 (cf. opp. albus):

miror Proelia rubrica picta aut carbone,

Hor. S. 2, 7, 98.—

B.

For something of little value; hence prov.: carbonem pro thesauro invenire, to be deceived in one ' s expectation, Phaedr. 5, 6, 6.—

C.

A bad tumor, Ser. Samm. 39, 725; cf. carbunculus, C.

2.

Carbo, ōnis, m., a Roman surname in the gens Papiria, Cic. Fam. 9, 21, 3; cf. Plin. 7, 16, 15, § 68 al.