Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Sica

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. 

SI'CA. A sort of knife or dagger with a sharp point and curved blade (Gloss. Philox. ξίφος ἐπικαμπὲς), like a wild boar's tusk (Plin. H. N. xviii. 1. apri dentium sicas exacuunt), which rendered it particularly efficacious for stabbing and ripping up. It was the national weapon of the Thracians (Val. Max. iii. 2. 12.); and was consequently employed by the gladiators, who took their name and accoutrements from that people (Suet. Cal. 32. Mart. iii. 16. and next next wood-cut.) But amongst the Romans it was only regarded as the weapon of a ruffian and assassin (Cic. Cat. i. 10. Quint. Decl. 321. Isidor. Orig. xviii. 6. 8.), like the knife of the lowest Italian population, which is formed and used in a similar way, to stab at the abdomen, and rip upwards. The example (Sica/1.1) is in the hands of a barbarian on the column of Antoninus.

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  Sica/1.1