muscŭlus
i, m.
I.
a little mouse.
I.
Lit., Cic. Div. 2, 14, 33; Plin. 27, 7, 28, § 52.—
II.
Transf.
A.
Of other creatures.
1.
A companion of the whale, Plin. 9, 62, 88, § 186; called musculus marinus, id. 11, 37, 62, § 165.—
2.
A sea-mussel, Cels. 3, 6; 2, 29; Plaut. Rud. 2, 1, 9 (al. mytilus). —
B.
Of things.
1.
A muscle of the body: quodcunque musculum laesit, Cels. 5, 26, 3; 8, 1: femorum, Luc. 9, 771.—Trop., muscle, vigor (post-Aug.): hanc (historiam) ossa, musculi, nervi decent, Plin. Ep. 5, 8, 10.—
2.
In milit. lang., a shed, mantelet (cf.: vinea, testudo); for its form and construction, v. Caes. B. C. 2, 10, 1; id. B. G. 7, 84; Veg. R. Mil. 4, 16.—
3.
A kind of small sailing vessel: longae naves sunt, quas dromones vocamus: dictae eo quod longiores sint ceteris: quibus contrarius musculus, curtum navigium, Isid. Orig. 19, 1.