fossor

I. a digger, delver, ditcher.

I. Lit.

A. In gen. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): et labefacta movens robustus jugera fossor, Verg. G. 2, 264: squalidus in magna compede fossor, Juv. 11, 80; Hor. C. 3, 18, 15; Mart. 7, 71, 4; Col. 11, 2, 38: ceu septa novus jam moenia laxet Fossor, Stat. Th. 2, 419.—

B. In partic.

1. A miner, workman in a mine, Vitr. 7, 8, 1; Calp. Ecl. 4, 118 (cf. aurifossor).—

2. In late Lat., a grave-digger, Inscr. Orell. 4925 al.; cf. fossa, I. B. 3.—

3. In mal. part., a fornicator, Aus. Ep. 49; cf. fossa, I. B. 4.—

II. Transf., in gen., in a contemptuous signif., a common laborer, a clown, Cat. 22, 10: cum sis cetera fossor, Pers. 5, 122.