cataracta (also catarracta), ae, f. (catarractes, ae, m., Plin. and Sol.; v. the foll.), = ὁ καταρράκτης or καταράκτης. Lit., a waterfall, in gen.; the waterfalls of the Euphrates, Plin. 5, 24, 20, § 85.

—Hence, Meton. and κατ̓ ἐξοχήυ, the celebrated fall of the Nile on the southern borders of Egypt, the Cataract: novissimo catarracte, Plin. 5, 9, 10, § 54.

—Acc. catarracten, Plin. 5, 9, 10, § 59; Sol. 32: pervenit ad cataractam, Vitr. 8, 2, 6.

—Plur. fem.: cataractae, nobilis insigni spectaculo locus, Sen. Q. N. 4, 2, 4: praecipites cataractae, Luc. 10, 317; Amm. 22, 15, 9.

— In milit. lang., a drawbridge, portcullis, Veg. Mil. 4, 4; Liv. 27, 28, 10 and 11.

— A water-sluice, floodgate, Plin. Ep. 10, 61 (69), 4; Rutil. 1, 481 Zumpt.

— A waterbird (that pounces down quickly), Plin. 10, 44, 61, § 126.