rorarii

• a kind of light-armed Roman troops, who usually made the first attack and then retired, skirmishers (cf.: velites, ferentarii): rorarii dicti ab rore, qui bellum committebant ante, ideo quod ante rorat quam pluit, Varr. L. L. 7, § 58 Müll.; cf. Fest. s. h. v. p. 264 ib.; Non. 552 fin.; Liv. 8, 8, 8; 8, 9, 14; Plaut. Fragm. ap. Varr. 1. 1.; cf. Becker, Antiq. III. 2, p. 275.—In sing., Lucil. ap. Non. 553, 2 sq.—Hence, ‡ rōrārĭus, a, um, adj., of or for the rorarii: rorarium vinum, quod rorariis dabatur, Fest. p. 267 Müll.

• light-armed troops, who made the first attack and retired behind the triarii, skirmishers, L.

RORA´RII[EXERCITUSVol. I. pp. 782-784.]

The name given in the old Roman legion to the citizens of the lowest property-class, who were armed only with a dart and a sling. These had to open the fighting in the capacity of skirmishers, and, when the close combat began, to withdraw behind the line. In later times their place was taken by the velites (q. v.). See exercitus; legio.