Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Discinctus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

DISCINCTUS (ἄζωστος). Ungirt; that is, wearing the tunic without its belt round the waist, as shown by the figure annexed (Discinctus/1.1), from a painting at Pompeii; and, as this was an unusual practice amongst the ancients, except when a person wished to be at ease in his own house (Hor. Sat. ii. 1. 73.), it implies a sense of hurry and constrained dishabille (Id. Sat. i. 2. 132.), or of natural slovenliness, which was considered to be indicative of loose morals. Pedo Albin. El. ii. 21 — 25. of Maecenas, who was addicted to this habit.

2. With respect to females, the meaning is the same, and the appearance presented by a woman's tunic without its belt (recincta, soluta) is shown by the following figure (Discinctus/2.1), from an engraved gem; but the sense of indelicacy is still more decided as regards the sex, amongst whom, both in Greece and Italy, such freedom of costume was chiefly affected by women of easy character, such as singing and dancing girls, who are mostly so depicted in the Pompeian paintings.

3. Discinctus miles. With respect to the military, the word implies without the sword belt (balteus, cinctorium), which the Roman commanders sometimes took from their men who had disgraced themselves, as the colours are now taken for a similar purpose from a modern regiment; and this was not only a mark of ignominy, but a real hardship to the soldier, who was thus compelled to carry his naked sword without the assistance of a belt and the sheath attached to it. Liv. xxvii. 13.

• 
  Discinctus/1.1
• 
  Discinctus/2.1