Batillum

Batillum or vatillum was an ancient Roman iron shovel with a short handle used for various purposes, especially as a fire-shovel, chafing-dish, and for burning incense.^[1]

Etymology[edit]

The name is possibly related to battualia "the exercise of soldiers and gladiators in fighting and fencing" which is related to the English verb to beat or to vas a vessel (in some Latinate languages 'b' and 'v' can be interchangeable).^[2]

See also[edit]

• Entrenching tool
• Roman military personal equipment

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Peck, Harry Thurston, ed. (1898). "Batillum". Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. New York: Harper & Brothers. p. 1514.

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