| A | B |
|---|
| pedites | footsoldiers |
| legio, legionis (f) | largest infantry unit, roughly 6,000 men, some non-combattants |
| cohors, cohortis | a tenth of a legion, or 360-480 men |
| manipulus (English: maniple) | a third of a cohort, or 120-160 men |
| centuria | the smallest unit of infantry; 60-80 men (originally containing 100 men) |
| auxilia, auxiliarum (n. pl.) | auxiliary troops, often non-Roman troops from conquered provinces |
| sagittarius, -i (m.) | a type of auxilia; bowmen and archers from Crete and Numidia |
| eques, equitis (m.) | cavalry |
| ala (English: wing) | a cavalry squad of about 300 men led by three decuriones |
| mercator, mercatoris (m) | a noncombatant; traders who conducted canteens outside the camp, selling the soldiers extra provisions and buying booty from them |
| exploratores/speculatores | scouts/spies: usually mounted; sent ahead to reconnoiter and secure information about the enemy and the terrain |
| dux, ducis (m) | commanding officer or general |
| imperator, imperatoris (m) | commander-in-chief; a dux assumed this title after his first important victory |
| legatus, -i (m) | staff officers; next in rank to the dux |
| tribuni militum | military tribunes; lowest ranking commision officers |
| centuriones | centurions or captains; noncommissioned officers of plebian origin offi |
| hiberna | winter quarters |
| quaestores | quartermasters (handled pay and equipment needs) |
| sagum, sagi (n) | a woolen cloak for severe weather; also served as a blanket |
| caliga, caligae (f) | leather shoes, fastened on by straps with heavy hobnail soles |
| lorica segmenta, ae (f) | a breastplate, made of leather and strengthened with metal bands |
| galea, galeae (f) | a helmet made of leather or metal |
| scutum, scuti (n) | a curved rectangular shield made of wood weighing twenty pounds |
| pilum, pili (n) | a javelin or pike about six feet long, weighing approx. ten pounds |
| gladius, gladii (m) | a heavy, pointed, 2-edged sword about 2 feet long |
| aquila | eagle--the standard of the legion |
| aquilifer | eagle bearer (aquila + fero, ferre) |
| signum | the standard of a cohort or maniple |
| signifer | the signum bearer (signum + fero, ferre) |
| acies triplex | the usual battle formation fo a Roman legion (triple line) |
| tuba | trumpet; used to give signals in battle |
| cornu | horn; used to give signals in battle |
| primum agmen | the vanguard, consisting of scouts, cavalry squads, and light-armed infantry men |
| agmen | the main column of the legionary troops |
| impedimenta | heavy baggage; carried on back animals or in wagons |
| sarcina, ae (f) | personal pack of a soldier; caried over the left shoulder in a bundle tied to a forked pole |
| castra | camp; built after a days march for protection |
| fossa | a ditch or a trench dug around the camp |
| agger | an embankment constructed from the earth of the fossa, 10 feet high surrounding the camp |
| prima/secunda/tertia/quarta vigilia | watches (3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-3) |
| aries | a battering ram made of a heavy log with a metal head |
| testudo | a protective screen formed by overlapping shields (tortoise shell) |
| turris ambulatoria | a huge, moveable, wooden tower, several stories high |
| ballista | machine for hurling large arrows and javelins |
| catapulta | a machine for hurling heavy stones and blocks of wood |
| fundatores | slingers |
| Marius's mules | infantry, so called because their packs weighed 40-60 pounds |
| turmae | cavalry squadrons |
| primus pilus | centurion of the highest rank |
| praefectus | Roman cavalary commander |
| castra ponere | to pitch camp |
| tunica, tunicae (f) | tunic worn under armor |
| hasta, hastae (f) | spear |
| pugio, pugionis (m) | dagger |
