Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Scurra

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. 

SCUR'RA. A polished gentleman, or one who has acquired the habits of good society and town life, as opposed to awkward and provincial manners (Plaut. Most. i. 1. 14.); afterwards, one who toadies great and wealthy individuals for the purpose of getting invitations to dinner, which he repays by flattering his host and amusing the guests with his anecdotes and bon-mots (Plaut. Poen. iii. 2. 35. Hor. Ep. i. 18. 10.); and finally, in a sense of contemptuous reproach, a mere buffoon. Hor. Sat. i. 5. 49. Plin. Ep. ix. 17. 1.

2. At a later period the soldiers of the emperor's body-guard were designated by the same name. Lamprid. Alex. Sev. 61. Id. Elag. 33.