acatus

• a light vessel or boat (pure Latin, actuaria), Tert. adv. Marc. 5, 1 med.

AC´ATUSdim. ACAT´IUM (ἄκατος, ἀκάτιον). 1. A kind of boat or small vessel [NAVIS]. 2. In the rigging of a ship, ἀκάτια were certain sails, perhaps stay-sails, of which nothing definite is known (cf. Liddell and Scott, s. v.). The statement in Julius Pollux and Hesychius that the main-mast was so called is extremely doubtful; in the only classical text where the word occurs, τὰ ἀκάτια are contrasted with τὰ μέψαλα ἱστία (Xen. Hell. 6.2.27); and Rich, s. v., rightly observes that the only certain thing is that the acatium was especially adapted for fast sailing with light winds. 3. A drinking-vessel, so named from its shape, somewhat like our modern sauce-boat. The above figures are from the collection in the Louvre (ap. Daremberg and Saglio). The ἀκάτια are expressly distinguished from larger cups (Epicrat. ap. Ath. 11. p. 782 f., fr. 9, Meineke); but there was also a μεγάλη ἄκατος used in libations (Antiph. ap. Ath. 15. p. 692 f., fr. 5, Meineke).

dimin. acation (ἄκατος, ἀκάτιον). (1) A small boat (see Navis).

(2) In the rigging of a ship, ἀκάτια were small sails, probably stay-sails.

(3) A drinking-vessel, shaped like a modern sauceboat.