Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Fiscus

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. 

FIS'CUS. A large basket of the same description and uses, as described under the two precedings words (FISCELLUS and FISCINA); and especially employed in the squeezing of grapes and olives. Columell. xii. 52. 2. Ib. 47. 9.

2. It would appear that the Romans made use of a basket of this kind for the custody of coin (Cic. Verr. i. 8. Phaedr. ii. 7.); whence the term fiscus came to be applied under the Empire to that portion of the public revenue which was applied to the maintenance of the sovereign, like our "civil list," as contradistinguished from the personal and private property of the prince (res privata Principis, ratio Caesaris), and from the Exchequer, or Treasury of the State (aerarium), out of which the expenses of the government were defrayed. But this distinction is not always strictly observed.