Glossary of Latin Terms

ARMARIUM, a closet or covered niche; a place for books.

ARMARIUS, a librarian (medieval).

ATRAMENTARIUM, an inkstand.

ATRAMENTUM, ink.

BIBLINUS, of; or made from, papyrus-from hiblus, poetical term for papyrus.

BIBLIOPOLA, a bookseller.

BIBLIOTHECA, a library.

BIBLIOTHECALIS THESAURUS, a repository for books.

BIBLIOTHECARIUS, a librarian (classical).

BIBLIOTHECULA, a small library.

BIBLUS, another word for papyrus.

CALAMUS, a pen.

CAMISIA, literally, a linen nightgown: a Cover for a box in which a codex or scroll was kept.

CAPSA, a chest or box.

CHARTA, a leaf of papyrus; a writing; a letter.

CHARTARIUS, a paper merchant

CHARTOPOLA, a paper merchant.

CODEX, literally, a block of wood: a: book, because a bound book looks like a block.

COLOPHON, colophon; literally the summit, or top--i.e., end--of a book. 

CUNEUS, literally, a wedge: the wedge-shaped space between panels in walls-a corner used for books; a nook.

DIPTYCHA, a writing tablet of two leaves the faces of which folded together, the outer surfaces forming a cover.

ESCHATOL, the last page of a codex.

GRAPHIATHECA, a case for a stilus.

HORREA CHARTARIA, a government warehouse for storing papyrus.

INDEX, a title or superscription.

LIBER, literally, the inner bark of a tree; a book.

LIBRARIOLUM, a small bookcase.

LIBRARIUM, a place to keep books.

LIBRARIUS, a scribe; a copyist.

MEMBRANA, a thin skin prepared for writing.

NIDUS, literally, a nest; a nook or small place for books.

PAGINA, a page.

PAPYRUS, papyrus.

PEGMA, a fixture made of boards; a bookcase.

PERGAMENTA, parchment.

PLUTEUS, a bookshelf; bookcase; also a desk used for books.

PROTOCOLLUM, first leaf of a codex.

PUGILLARES CERAR, wax writing-tablets-that which can be held in the hand.

RUBRICA, red color made from ocher; hence a red title, a rubric.

SCRINIUM, a case or box or chest in which to keep books or papers.

SEPIA, ink derived from the black fluid ejected by the cuttlefish.

SPONGIA, a sponge; an eraser.

STILUS, a style used for writing in wax, made of wood, ivory, or metal.

TABERNA LIBRARIA, a bookshop.

TABULAE, thin oblong-shaped sheets of wood covered with wax and having a raised edge all around to prevent the sheets from adhering and so obliterating the writing.

THECA, a case; sometimes a shelf for books.

TITULUS, a title or superscription; a ticket.

TOMUS, a tome or volume from Greek tomos.

UMBILICUS, the projecting end of the rod on which a manuscript was rolled, and used as a handle.

VOLUMEN, literally, something rolled up; a volume.

Source: James Westfall Thompson, Ancient Libraries. University of California Press, 1940