Lacerna

Fr. a garment which was worn by the ancients. It was made of woollen stuff, and was only worn by men; originally indeed by those alone that were of a military profe ion. It was usually thrown over the toga, and sometimes indeed over the tunica. It may not improperly be considered as the surtout or great coat of the ancients, with this difference, that there was a winter lacernum and a summer one. The lacerna was adopted by the Romans towards the close of their republic. Even as late down as the days of Cicero it was unknown amongst them, or if known, censured as a mark of disgraceful effeminacy. During the civil wars that occurred in the triumvirate of August us, Lepidus, and Antony, the lacerna became familiar to the people, and by degrees was adopted as common apparel, by the senators and knights of Rome, until the reigns of Gratian, Val ent in i an, and Theodosius, who enjoined the senators not to wear it. The lacerna is the same as the chlamys and the burrbus . Un LACHE , Fr. A familiar phrase among the french to signify a coward, .