sportula

noun

spor·​tu·​la

ˈspȯ(r)chələ

plural sportulae

-chəˌlē

also sportulas

: a gift (as of food or money) usually from an ancient Roman to one of his clients and often at regular intervals or on prescribed occasions

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, little basket, diminutive of sporta basket, from (assumed) Etruscan spurta, from Greek spurid-, spuris; akin to Greek sparton plaited rope, esparto (spiral)

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