[lik-ter] 
| (in ancient Rome) one of a body of attendants on chief magistrates, who preceded them carrying the fasces and whose duties included executing the sentences of criminals. |
[lik-tawr-ee-uhn, -tohr-] , adjective | lic·tor (lĭk'tər) n. A Roman functionary who carried fasces when attending a magistrate in public appearances. [From Middle English littoures, lictors, from Latin lictōrēs, pl. of lictor; see leig- in Indo-European roots.] |
lictor
member of an ancient Roman class of magisterial attendants, probably Etruscan in origin and dating in Rome from the regal period. Lictors carried the fasces for their magistrate and were constantly in his attendance in public; they cleared his way in crowds and summoned and punished offenders for him. They also served as their magistrate's house guard. In Rome the lictors wore togas; during a consul's triumph or while outside Rome they wore scarlet coats
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