claustellum

Latin

Alternative forms

• clostellum

Etymology

From claustrum (“bar, gate”) +‎ -ellum.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA: /klausˈtel.lum/

Noun

claustellum (genitive claustellī); n, second declension

1. keyhole
   • 1st cent. CE, Gaius Petronius Arbiter, Satyricon, chapter CXL

     Itaque ego quoque, ne desidia consuetudinem perderem, dum frater sororis suae automata per clostellum miratur, accessi temptaturus an pateretur iniuriam.

     Therefore, fearing through inaction I might lose an opportunity, I also made advances to the brother who was enjoying the gymnastics of his sister through the keyhole, to see if he would prove amenable to assault.

Inflection

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	claustellum	claustella
genitive	claustellī	claustellōrum
dative	claustellō	claustellīs
accusative	claustellum	claustella
ablative	claustellō	claustellīs
vocative	claustellum	claustella

Synonyms

• (keyhole): forāmen

Related terms

claudō claustrārius claustrum

clausum clausūra clausus