Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Patellarii

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. 

PATELLA'RII, sc. Dii. A term of derision applied to the gods by certain wits of irreverent dispositions, suggested by the images of the various deities which were enchased upon the dishes (patellae) employed for holding the viands presented to them at their feasts. Plaut. Cist. ii. 1. 46. Compare Cic. Verr. iv. 21. 22. Becker, Quaest. Plaut. p. 50.