A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

an ancient name among the Romans, was first used as a praenomen, and afterwards as a cognomen. It frequently occurs as a

cognomen, in the early times of the empire, but not under the republic. One of the mythical kings of Alba is called by this name. (Liv. 1.3.) According to Aulus Gellius (16.16), Pliny (Plin. Nat. 7.6. s. 8), and Solinus (1), the word signifies a birth, at which the child is presented with its feet foremost; but their derivation of it from aegre partus or pes is absurd enough. (Comp. Sen. Oed. 813.)