// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Batillum say? "I'm bat-ty for you.

Bronze batillum, late 1st–early 2nd century A.D.

A batillum or vatillum was an ancient Roman iron shovel with a short handle used for various purposes, especially as a fire-shovel, chafing-dish, and for burning incense.

Etymology

The name is possibly related to battualia "the exercise of soldiers and gladiators in fighting and fencing" which is related to the English verb to beat or to vase a vessel (in some Latinate languages 'b' and 'v' can be interchangeable).

See also

• Entrenching tool
• Roman military personal equipment

Bibliography

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Peck, Harry Thurston, ed. (1898). "Batillum". Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. New York: Harper & Brothers. p. 1514.