Rostratus (masculine), rostrata (feminine) or rostratum (neuter) is a Latin adjective meaning "beaked, curved, hooked, with a crooked point, or with a curved front". In marine warfare, the term beak (rostrum) referred to the ram bows on warships, which were metal or metal-covered beams projecting from ships' bows, used to pierce enemy vessels by ramming.

Roman usage

Columna rostrata (Rostral column) After the Battle of Mylae in 260 BC during the First Punic War, a columna rostrata (a victory column), was placed in the Roman Forum in honour of Gaius Duilius. It was so called because it was adorned with the beaks (ram bows) of the captured Carthaginian vessels. The columna rostrata became a favourite site for speeches. Corona rostrata A corona rostrata was a golden wreath, decorated with small golden prow and beak of a ship. These were awarded to commanders who were victorious in naval warfare.

Modern usage

In modern usage the adjective is used in Linnaean taxonomy to refer to a wide variety of species because of the beaked form of part of their anatomy. Examples include: