ancile

American  

[an-sahy-lee, ahng-kee-ley] / ænˈsaɪ li, ɑŋˈki leɪ /

noun

Roman Religion.

plural

ancilia

1. a shield given by Mars to Numa Pompilius as the palladium of Rome.

2. any of 11 counterfeits of this shield, carried with it on ceremonial occasions.

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Etymology

Origin of ancile

1590–1600; < Latin ancīle, traditionally said to be equivalent to an- (variant of ambi- ambi- before c- ) + -cīle ( -cīd- combining form of caed ( ere ) to cut ( cf. -cide) + *-sl- noun suffix + -e, earlier *-i, stem vowel for compounds), referring to the deep indentations in the waist of the shield