A pitchpine torch

taeda ( tēda), ae ( gen. taedaï, Lucr. 6, 897), f. [etym. dub.; cf. taedet], a resinous species of pine-tree, the pitch-pine tree (syn. fax): Pinus combra, Linn.

Lit., Plin. 16, 10, 19, § 44; 16, 11, 21, § 52; 37, 3, 11, § 43;

35, 6, 25, § 41: ceu flamma per taedas equitavit,

Hor. C. 4, 4, 43. —

Transf.

Resinous fir or pine wood, pitch-pine:

cupas taedā ac pice refertas incendunt,

Caes. B. C. 2, 11; 3, 101:

pyrā erectā taedis atque ilice sectā,

Verg. A. 4, 505:

schedias taedā comburere,

Vitr. 7, 10.—

A pitchpine torch, a torch: circumstant cum ardentibus taedis, Enn. ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 28, 89 (Trag. v. 51 Vahl.); cf.:

taedae ardentes Furiarum,

Cic. Pis. 20, 46; id. Rosc. Am. 24, 67:

Ceres dicitur inflammasse taedas eis ignibus, etc.,

id. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 106; cf. Ov. F. 4, 494:

accensis currere taedis,

Prop. 2, 32, 9:

taedas Hymenaeus Amorque Praecutiunt,

Ov. M. 4, 758; so of a nuptial torch, id. H. 4, 121; Verg. A. 4, 18 al.; hence, poet., a wedding, marriage, id. ib. 4, 339; 7, 388; 9, 76; Ov. M. 9, 721; 9, 768; 4, 326; 14, 677;

15, 826: copulari taedis,

Sen. Herc. Fur. 493:

jungere taedas,

Stat. S. 3, 4, 53:

teque mihi taeda pudica dedit,

Ov. H. 6, 134:

sacra conubia fallere taedae,

Mart. 6, 2, 1; and for love, in gen., Prop. 1, 8, 21: taedaeque ad funera versae, torches reversed, in sign of mourning, Sil. 2, 184; 13, 547.—As an instrument of torture:

verbera, carnifices, robur, pix, lamina, taedae,

Lucr. 3, 1017; Juv. 1, 155. —

A pine board, a sawn plank:

dolato confisus ligno, digitis a morte remotus Quattuor, aut septem, si sit latissima taeda,

Juv. 12, 59. —

A small piece of pork or fat, used for religious purposes, Arn. 7, 230.