LAUDANUM

(Supposed to be derived from Lat. 1 ins, praise.) Different preparations of opium have been so termed: the tinctures used formerly to be called liquid laudanum. LAUDICOENI (Lat.), among the Romans, were persons who (like the modern claqueurs in France, or the puffers in England at auctions) attended the performance of play:-, and the delivery of orations, in order to raise or to join in the acclamation. The derivation of the word would indicate that an entertainment was the chief, if not the only reward, which they obtained for their services. [s. 659]