SĪCA

dim. SĪCĪLA, whence the English sickle , a curved dagger, adapted by its form to be concealed under the clothes, and therefore carried by robbers and murderers. Sica may be translated a scimitar , to distinguish it from Pugio , which denoted a dagger of the common kind. Sicarius , though properly meaning one who murdered with the sic a, was applied to murderers in general. Hence the forms de sicariis and inter sicarios were used in the criminal courts in reference to murder. Thus judicium inter sicarios , “a trial for murder;” defend ere inter sicarios , “to defend against a charge of murder.”