cymbium

1. Poculum and calix denote, as old Latin words, any sort of drinking vessel, merely with reference to its use; poculum, a usual cup for meals; calix, a rarer chalice, or goblet, for feasts; whereas scyphus, cantharus, cymbium, culigna, are foreign words, of Greek origin, denoting particular sorts of cups, with reference to their form. 2. Poculum, etc. all serve as drinking cups; whereas the old Roman word simpuvium, and the modern cyathus, are ladles to fill the pocula from the crater, as with the punch-ladle we fill the punch-glasses from the punch-bowl. (v. 318.)