Latrunculus, siue Laterunculus, qui & latro, Vulgus nostrum Scachos vocat Mart. Senec.A chesse man.Prælia latronum sudere.Ouid.To play at chesses.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
lātruncŭlus, i, m.dim. [2. latro]. I.A highwayman, robber, freebooter, brigand: mastrucati latrunculi, Cic. Prov. Cons. 7, 15: hostes sunt, quibus bellum publice populus Romanus decrevit, vel ipsi populo Romano, ceteri latrunculi vel praedones appellantur, Dig. 49, 15, 24 (cf. the passage from Dig. 50, 16, 118, where the word latrones is used; v. 2. latro, II.): a latrunculis vel hostibus, ib. 39, 5, 34.—Of the usurper of a throne, Vop. Firm. 2, 1.—II.A man, pawn, in draughts or chess. latrunculis ludimus, Sen. Ep. 106, 11; Varr. L. L. 10, 22 Müll.; Plin. 8, 54, 80, 215.