Scrinium

Scrinium is a Latin noun meaning a box, chest, or case. In classical Latin usage, it referred to a portable container designed to hold manuscripts, writing materials, or small valuables. Scrinia were used by Roman officials, scholars, and travelers to transport scrolls, wax tablets, styluses, seals, and other writing implements. They varied in size and construction, often made of wood or leather and sometimes divided into compartments or secured with a lid and lock.

Etymology: The term is generally traced to Greek skrínion (σκρίνιον) meaning a box or case, via Latin scrinium. The form scrinia is the plural used in some scholarly discussions.

Usage and context: A scrinium denotes storage rather than the act of writing. It is distinct from the scriptorium, the room where writing was performed, and from the codex or scroll itself. As a portable library or archive, a scrinium served both personal and institutional needs.

Modern usage: In contemporary English, scrinium is a rare, scholarly term. It appears mainly in discussions of Latin vocabulary, antiquarian writings, or descriptions of ancient storage practices. In common language, it is typically replaced by terms such as box, chest, or writing case.

See also: codex, scroll, scriptorium, writing desk.

References: Standard Latin dictionaries (for example, Oxford Latin Dictionary and Lewis & Short) discuss scrinium as a container for manuscripts and writing tools.