I.a small bag or sack.
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “folliculis frumentum vehere,” Liv. 9, 13, 9: “quidam judicatus est parentem occidisse: ei statim ... os obvolutum est folliculo et praeligatum,” Cic. Inv. 2, 50, 149.—Of a matricide: “statim folliculo lupino os obvolutum est,” Auct. Her. 1, 13, 23.—
B. Esp. (cf. follis, I. B.), a ball to play with, inflated with air; a wind-ball (cf.: “pila, globus, sphaera): post bella civilia ad pilam, folliculumque transiit,” Suet. Aug. 83.—
II. Transf.
A. In gen., a husk, pod, shell, skin, follicle: “latentem frugem ruptis velamentis suis, quae folliculos agricolae vocant, adaperire,” Sen. Q. N. 5, 18, 3: “gluma est grani folliculus,” Varr. R. R. 1, 48, 1: “cum spica se exserit folliculo,” Sen. Ep. 124, 11. —So of fruits, Varr. R. R. 1, 48, 1; Col. 2, 8, 5; Plin. 24, 8, 33, § 49; 24, 9, 40, § 65: “folliculus animalium,” id. 30, 12, 37, § 111: muliebris, i. q. vulva, acc. to Serv. Verg. G. 3, 136.—Poet., the shell of an egg: “teretes (cicadarum),” Lucr. 5, 803; and of the human body, as the husk or shell of the soul: ego, si qui sum et quo folliculo sum indutus, queo, Lucil. ap. Non. 110, 27.—
B. Esp., as med. t. t. (late Lat.).
1. A sac: “ventris,” Cael. Aur. Acut. 3, 17, 154.—
2. The bladder, Cael. Aur. Tard. 4, 3, 24.—
3. The scrotum, Cael. Aur. Acut. 3, 17, 165; id. Tard. 3, 8, 106; “called in full, folliculum genitale,” id. ib. 3, 8, 104.
