CELLAR (Cellarium), in ancient writers, denotes the same with cella, viz. a conservatory of eatables or drinkables.
Cellar differs from vault, as the latter is supposed to be deeper, the former being frequently little below the surface of the ground. In which sense, cellarium also differed from penus, as the former was only a storehouse for several days, the latter for a long time. Thus it is the bactroperatæ, a sort of ancient Cynics, are said by St Jerome to carry their cellar about with them.
Cellarium also denoted an allowance of bread, wine, oil, or other provision, furnished out of the cella, to the use of the governor of the province and his officers, &c. In which sense, the word amounts to much the same with annonæ.