In Ancient Roman regalia, a laticlave, or clavus, was a broad stripe or band of purple on the fore part of the tunic, worn by senators as an emblem of office. The name laticlavia translates to "broad nail" and figuratively "broad stripe", in contrast to the "narrow stripe" (angusticlavia) which appeared on the tunics of lower social ranks. This ornament, according to some, was called clavus ("nail") as being set with little round plates of gold, or silver, like the heads of nails. maintained that the clavus consisted of a kind of purple flowers, sewn upon the cloth.