Pl. -eæ. Rom. Antiq. [Latin trabea.] A toga ornamented with horizontal purple stripes, worn as a state robe by kings, consuls, and other men of rank in ancient Rome.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. 30. Then came Servius abroad in his roiall robe, called Trabea.
1702. Addison, Dial. Medals, iii. (1726), 160. Our modern Medals are full of Toga’s and Tunica’s, Trabea’s and Paludamentums.
a. 1746. Holdsworth, Rem. Virgil (1768), 291. The Lituus and Trabea of Romulus and the Ancilia were kept in the Sacrarium of the Salii.
1842. W. Smith, Dict. Gr. & Rom. Antiq., s.v. Toga, Servius … mentions three kinds of trabeae; one wholly of purple, which was sacred to the gods, another of purple and white, and another of purple and saffron which belonged to augurs. The purple and white trabea was a royal robe.
