I once read that the ancient Romans would eat like pigs, then vomit up their food,so they could resume eating. Supposedly, there was a trough (in front of the seats at the Colliseum) where one could vomit.
I find this story to be quite bizarre, and I doubt it for two big reasons:
-having been sick several times, you DO NOT want to eat after vomiting…your mouth has that awful taste from the stomach acid, and the smell is an apetite deterrent as well
-food was expensive in Roman times, and wasting it in such a selfish fashion would have mey with disapproval
So is this a bit of historical fiction?
I dunno, but I know this belongs in GQ.
I’d read that “etmyology” too, but I’m pretty sure that my Latin teacher’s version was that “vomitoria” were the aisles/passageways allowing entrance and egress in whatever-the-heck-they-called-the-big-sporting-arenas. (Sorry my brain has gone on strike - must be sleep-time)
No cite for the vomitoria right now, but will try to check.
Not to dispute Uncle Cecil, but it seems both uses of the word are valid.