A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Cerniculum,-i (s.n.II), abl.sg. cerniculo: a sieve = incerniculum,-i (s.n.II), q.v., abl.sg. incerniculo: “a sieve, searce; as a literal transl. of the Gk. tElia, a square stand on which the Greek flour-dealers set out four, etc., for sale” (Lewis & Short) [> L. cerno, crevi, cretum 3., to separate, sift; to separate, distinguish by the senses, mostly by the eyes, i.e. to perceive, see, discern; to perceive, comprehend, understand; see sieve; -[Roccella] praeparant vero illam hic modo. Plantam in pulverem adeo tenuem reducunt, ut per cerniculum facillime trajiciatur; deinde vetere maris urina (nam mulieris perniciosa habetur) leviter illam irrorant vase ligneo contentam, & semel in die agitant (Mich.); furthermore they prepare that in this way. They reduce it so much into a fine powder, that it might be easily passed through a seive; then that is lightly sprinkled with the old [i.e. stale] urine of a man (for that of a woman is considered harmful) contained in a wooden vessel, and agitated once a day.