properly signifies a quarry, or place whence stones are dug. The word comes from the Greek λίθος, stone, and ἀναβάλλω, I cut. These were anciently used as gaols for criminals.—Dionysius had a place of this kind dug in a rock near Syracuse, where an infinite number of people were shut up. Cicero reproaches Verres with imprisoning Roman Citizens in Latomiae; so that Latomia became a general name for a prison, and the prisoners inclosed in them were called Latomarii.