accubitum
- a couch for a large number of guests to recline on at meals (while the triclinium contained only three seats), Lampr. Heliog. 19, 25 al.
ACCU´BITUMa couch used for reclining upon at meals, which in the imperial period took the place of the more ancient triclinium. It seems to have held any number of guests, whereas the triclinium only accommodated three. (Schol. ad Juven. 5.17, apud veteres accubitorum usus non erat ; Lamprid. Heliog. 19, 25, Casaub. and Salmas. ad loc. C. L. L. 3.4441, porticum cum accubito . . . restituit ; Labbaci, Glossa, accubitum, ἀνακλιντήριον; Marquardt, Röm. Alterth. 7. p. 298; cf. Lamprid. Alex. Sev. 34, numerus accubitionum crescebat et multitudo convivarum.) The accubitum was lower and more luxurious than the triclinium, and its coverings and pillows were called accubitalia. (Trebell. Poll. Claud. 14.)
[W.S]The name of a couch used for reclining upon at meals, and used at the time of the Empire in place of the triclinium (q. v.). It seems to have held any number of guests, and to have been lower and more luxurious than the triclinium. The spreads and pillows were called accubitalia (Trebell. Claud. 14).