Saccus undecimus | 'Eleventh bag'. military burial fund. |
Sacer | 'Sacred'. belonging to the emperor. |
Sacer comitatus | 'Sacred following'. imperial field army. |
Sacramentum | Military oath. |
Sagitta | Arrow. |
Sagitta ballistaria | Catapult bolt. |
Sagittarius | A - archer.
B - arrow-maker. |
Sagma | Pack saddle. |
Sagmarius | Pack animal driver. |
Sagum | Cloak. |
Sagularis | Camp road running along the inside of the rampart. |
Sagulum | Cloak. |
Salararius | Soldier enjoying special service conditions. mercenary. |
Salaratus | Soldier enjoying special service conditions. mercenary. |
Salgamum | Extortion of goods or money, a common military practice. |
Sambuca | Covered assault ladder. |
Salpinktès | Trumpeter. |
Salpinx | Trumpet. |
Sarcina | Marching pack. |
Sarissa | Macedonian pike. |
Saunion | Spear. javelin. |
Scala | Ladder. |
Scamnum | Partition of military camp. |
Scamnum tribunorum | Part of the camp used to house the tribuni . |
Scapha | Scouting vessel. |
Schola | A - social club.
B - military unit. |
Schola palatin | Late Roman mounted imperial guard unit. |
Schola principalium | NCO social club. |
Scholarius | Late Roman horse guard trooper. |
Scola | A - social club.
B - military unit. |
Scola agentum in rebus | Late Roman military intelligence unit. |
Scopae | Practice target. |
Scorpio | 'Scorpion'.
A - torsion gun.
B - artilleryman. |
Scorpionarius | Artilleryman. |
Scurra | Late Roman guardsman. |
Scutarius | 'Shieldbearer'.
A - soldier equipped with large shield.
B - guardsman. |
Scutatus | Soldier equipped with larger sized shield. |
Scutum | Shield. |
Scutum publicum | Government issue shield. |
Secutor | Bodyguard. batman. |
Semaforus | Standardbearer. |
Sèmeion | Standard. |
Sèmiaphoros | Standardbearer. |
Semispatha | Short sword. |
Semissalis | Late Roman junior NCO. |
Semivocale | Musical signal. |
Seniores | 'Veterans'. late Roman unit that detached men to create the core of a Iuniores unit. |
Sermo castrensis | 'Camp language'. military slang. |
Serra | 'Saw'. serrated battle formation. |
Sesquiplicarius | NCO on pay and a half. |
Signa inferre | 'To move the standards forward'. to advance, to attack. |
Signaculum | Lead identification disc worn by recruits. |
Signatus | Soldier that has been accepted for service. |
Signifer | Standardbearer. |
Signum | A - standard.
B - identification tattoo worn by soldiers. |
Simplaris | Soldier on basic pay. |
Singularis | 'Singled out', picked soldier. |
Skorpioon | Artilleryman. |
Socii | Allies. |
Socii navales | Naval allies. |
Socii Nominis Latini | 'Allies of the Latin name'. Latin league allies. |
Socius | Ally. |
Solliferreum | Javelin made wholly of iron. |
Spatha | Sword. often, but by no means invariably a sword with a long blade. |
Spathè | Sword. |
Spathè makra | Long sword. |
Speculator | A - scout/spy.
B - mounted legionary or praetorian serving as bodyguard and executioner. |
Speculator Augusti | Cavalryman attached to a praetorian cohort. |
Speira | Military unit. |
Speira stratègis | Greek term for cohors praetoria . unit of imperial guard. |
Sphendonètès | Slinger. |
Spiculum | Javelin. late Roman pilum successor. |
Spina | Reinforcing spine on shield. |
Spolia | Spoils. plunder. |
Spolia opima | The plundered weapons and equipment of a conquered enemy champion or commander. To dedicate the spolia opima brought great prestige. |
Spongia | Samnite triple disc body armour. |
SPQR | Acronym for S(enatus) P(opulus)Q(ue) R(omanus). the senate and people of Rome. |
Statio | A - military post.
B - tour of duty. |
Statio expleta | Completed tour of duty. |
Statio frumentariorum | Post of military intelligence service. |
Statio vigilum | 'Watch post'. police post annex fire department station. |
Stationarius | Soldier stationed on outpost. |
Statmouchos | A - billeting official.
B - civilian housing soldiers. |
Stator | Military policeman. |
Stellatura | Deduction made by officer from a soldier's allowance. |
Stephanos | Helmet crest. |
Stigma | Mark, tattoo. |
Stimulus | 'Goad'. type of defensive trap. |
Stipendarius | Soldier serving for pay. |
Stipendiosus | Soldier serving for pay. |
Stipendium | A - regular soldier's pay.
B - year of military service. |
Stratarchès | Legionary commander. |
Strateia | A - military service.
B - equestrian officer post. Greek equivalent of militia . |
Stratègos | Commander. general. |
Stratègos hypatos | 'Supreme commander'. Greek term for consul . |
Stratia | Army. |
Stratiè | A - army.
B - legion. |
Stratiootès | Soldier. |
Stratopedarchè | Commander. Greek term for praefectus castrorum . |
Stratopedon | A - camp.
B - legion. |
Strator | Soldier in charge of horse supply to the army. |
Striga | Pair of barracks housing a manipulus . |
Sub aquila | 'Under the eagle'. on active duty. |
Sub cura | Under the care of. |
Sub signis | 'Under the standards'. in military service. |
Sub vexillo | 'Under the flag'. veteran duty with lighter service. |
Sub iugum missus | POW who passed under the yoke. |
Subarmalis | A - arming doublet.
B - type of spear, possibly a short javelin. |
Suboptio | 'Under optio'. naval soldier subordinate to an optio . |
Subpraefectus | Subordinate commander. |
Subsidia | Supporting troops. auxiliaries. |
Subsignanus miles | Soldier on active duty. |
Sudis | Stake. |
Summus curator | Senior administrator in charge of supply. |
Suovetaurilia | Sacrifice of a pig, sheep and bull. |
Symmachos | Ally. |
Symmacharis | Ally. auxiliary. |
Symmachikon | Allied or auxiliary force. |
Symphoniacus | Flute player. musician indicating the rowing speed on smaller war ships. |
Synaspismos | A - locked shields formation.
B - Greek term for testudo . |
Synedrion | Military council. |
Syntagma | Military unit. |
Synteleia tiroonoon | Conscription levy. |
Sysstratiootès | Fellow soldier, brother-in-arms. |
