I.a small round fruit, a berry.
I. Lit.
A. In gen. (cf.: “acinus, glans): virgas murteas cum bacis servare,” Cato, R. R. 101; Ov. M. 11, 234: “lauri,” Verg. G. 1, 306: “tinus,” Ov. M. 10, 98: “ebuli,” Verg. E. 10, 27: “cupressi,” Plin. 16, 27, 50, § 115: “platani,” id. 15, 7, 7, § 29: “hyssopi,” id. 26, 12, 76, § 124 al.—
B. Esp. freq. the olive: “agricola cum florem oleae videt, bacam quoque se visurum putat,” Cic. Div. 2, 6, 16; Hor. S. 2, 4, 69; id. Ep. 1, 16, 2; Ov. M. 6, 81; 8, 295; cf. Mart. 13, 101.—
C. Esp., absol., in the poets of the olive, Hor. C. 2, 6, 16: “quot Sicyon bacas, quot parit Hybla favos,” Ov. P. 4, 15, 10.—As sacred to Minerva: “ponitur hic bicolor sincerae baca Minervae,” Ov. M. 8, 664; 13, 653.—And of the fruit of the wild olive-tree, Ov. M. 14, 525; cf. Verg. G. 2, 183.—
II. Transf.
A. In gen., any fruit of a tree, * Lucr. 5, 1363: “arbores seret diligens agricola, quarum aspiciet bacam ipse numquam,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 14, 31: “fruges terrae, bacaeque arborum,” id. Div. 1, 51, 116; so id. Sen. 2, 5: rami bacarum ubertate incurvescere, id. poët. ap. Tusc. 1, 28, 69 (Trag. Rel. inc. inc. v. 135 Rib.); cf. id. de Or. 3, 38, 154: “semen inclusum est in intimā parte earum bacarum, quae ex quāque stirpe funduntur,” id. N. D. 2, 51, 127: “fruges atque bacae,” id. Leg. 1, 8, 25: “felices,” Sil. 15, 535.—
B. That which is like a berry in shape.
1. A pearl: “marita, quae Onusta bacis ambulet,” Hor. Epod. 8, 14: “aceto Diluit insignem bacam,” id. S. 2, 3, 241; so Ov. M. 10, 116; 10, 265; Verg. Cul. 67; Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 592; id. Nupt. Hon. et Mar. 167; id. Laud. Stil. 2, 88; id. VI. Cons. Hon. 528.—
2. The dung of sheep or goats, Pall. Jan. 14, 3.—
3. A link of a chain in the shape of a berry, Prud. στεφ. 1, 46; so id. Psych. prooem. 33.