Scrupulum

Scrupulum, meaning a tiny stone (from scrupus sharp stone), indicates a weight of 1/24 of an ounce or, by extension, of other measures. Metaphorically, the stone is thought to be sharp and pricking, like a thorn.

As a weight or a coin, 1/24 of an uncia, or 1/288 of an as^[1]
As a measure of land, 1/288 of a jugerum^[2]
As a measure of time, 1/24 part of an hour.^[3]

The forms scripulum, scriptulum, scriplus and scriptulus can be found, scriptulum being also associated with the lines on a draughtboard.

References

Félix Gaffiot: Dictionnaire Illustré Latin Français, Hachette 1934

^ CIC. Att. 4, 16, 13; VITR. 7, 8; COL. 12, 28, 1.
^ VARR. R. 1, 10, 2; COL. 5, 1, 8
^ , M. AUREL. d.; FRONT. Caes. 2, 9

References

See also