Parmularius
/ˌpɑːr.mjʊˈlɛə.ri.əs/noun
A Roman gladiator who used a small shield called a parmula.
Did you know?Parmularius comes from parmula, the Latin word for a small shield, and it preserves a rare glimpse of how Roman gladiators were classified by their equipment, not just their skill.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to protect or cover”
Classical Latin
Latin
parma
“a small round shield”
Classical Latin
Latin
parmula
“a little shield; diminutive of parma”
Late Latin
Latin
parmularius
“a gladiator equipped with a small shield”
Modern English
English
parmularius
“a Roman gladiator armed with a parmula”
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