Plutarch's Romane Questions · Plutarch
54.
_Whence came it, that they call the shambles or butcherie at_ Rome _where flesh is to be solde_, Macellum? IS it for that this word _Macellum_, by corruption of language is derived of Μάγειρος, that in the Greek tonge signifieth a cooke? like as many other words by usage and custome are come to be received; for the letter C. hath great affinitie with G. in the Romane tongue: and long it was ere they had the use of G. which letter _Spurius Carbillius_ first invented. Moreover, they that maffle and stammer in their speech, pronounce ordinarily L. instead of R. Or this question may be resolved better by the knowledge of the Romane historie: for we reade therein, that there was sometime a violent person and a notorious thiefe at _Rome_, named _Macellus_, who after he had committed many outrages and robberies, was with much ado in the end taken and punished: and of his goods which were forfeit to the State, there was built a publike shambles or market place to sell flesh-meats in, which of his name was called _Macellum_.
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