grācŭlus
i, m.
from its note gra gra, Quint. 1, 6, 37; Isid. Orig. 12, 7, 45
I.
a jackdaw, Corvus monedula, Linn.; Plin. 11, 37, 79, § 201; 11, 47, 107, § 256; 8, 27, 41, § 101; Phaedr. 1, 3, 4; Mart. 1, 116, 6. —
b.
Prov.
(a).
Vetus adagium est: Nihil cum fidibus graculo, i. e. ignorant persons have nothing to do with poetry, Gell. N. A. praef. § 19.—
(b).
Graculus Aesopi, i. e. one who decks himself out in borrowed plumes, makes a fine show with other people's property, Tert. adv. Val. 12 (cf. Phaedr. 1, 3).