MORTAR Copy link • MORTARA vessel in which anything is pounded, mortarium; pila (less than mortarium): a small mortar, mortariolum (late): pila paullula (Cato, R.R., 14, 2): to pound anything in a mortar, in mortario or in pila tundere; in pila pinsere. A kind of large gun, *mortarium (bellicum). Prepared lime, mortarium, calx praeparata (Vitr.); arenatum (one third lime and two thirds sand): to cover with mortar, arenatum inducere alicui rei.