Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Furcifer

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. 

FUR'CIFER. Literally, one who carries burdens on a furca, as shown by the preceding illustration; or who bears the furca as a punishment. But as this penalty was for the most part inflicted upon the unfortunate slave class, the word is commonly used as a term of contempt, equivalent to our slave, villain, gallowsbird. Plaut. Amph. i. 1. 132. Ter. Eun. v. 2. 22. Cic. Vatin. 6.