I.fem.: “Nilotica,” Mart. Cap. 3, § 225) [prob. kindr. with βρύω, to sprout forth], a shrub, bush (cf. arbor).
I. Lit.: ex surculo vel arbor procedit, ut olea, ficus, pirus; vel frutex, ut violae, rosae, arundines; “vel tertium quiddam, quod neque arborem neque fruticem proprie dixerimus, sicuti est vitis,” Col. Arb. 1, 2; Col. 8, 15, 5; Plin. 16, 36, 64, § 156; Ov. A. A. 3, 249; Petr. 135: “numerosus,” Plin. 18, 24, 55, § 199: “olerum,” Col. 11, 3, 63: “lupini,” id. 2, 14, 5: “sucus fruticis recentis,” Plin. 23, 3, 35, § 71: “frutices inter membra condebant,” Lucr. 5, 956: “his genus omne silvarum fruticumque viret,” Verg. G. 2, 21: “in montuosis locis et fruticibus,” Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 16; collect. in the sing.: “venari asello comite cum vellet leo, Contexit illum frutice,” Phaedr. 1, 11, 4.—
II. Transf.