mĕdĭastīnus (noun M) : id.
* A common servant, drudge, employed in all kinds of menial occupations (class.): tu illi mediastinus, Cato ap. Non. 143, 9: atque bubulcus,Lucil. ib. 7: exercitus collectus ex senibus desperatis, ex agresti luxuria, ex rusticis mediastinis, decoctoribus,Cic. Cat. 2, 3, 5 (dub.): tu mediastinus tacitā prece rura petebas,Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 14; Col. 2, 13, 7; 1, 9, 3: Prodicus instituens quam vocant iatralepticen, reunctoribus quoque medicorum, ac mediastinis vectigal invenit,i. e. medical assistants,Plin. 29, 1, 2, § 4; Dig. 4, 9, 1, § 5.

s. TLL