I. A row of oxen, etc., harnessed together for draught, a team: protelo trini boves unum aratrum ducent, Cato ap. Non. 363, 10; Lucil. ib. 363, 7 and 8: “boum,” Plin. 9, 15, 17, § 45: “bina ternaque,” id. 18, 18, 48, § 173; cf.: protelum, ἔξαμπρον, Gloss. Philox.—
II. Transf., a line, row, succession (ante-class. and poet.): “protelo plagarum continuato,” Lucr. 2, 531; 4, 190.