II. Transf. (from their habit of burrowing in the ground; cf. Varr. l. l.; collat. form, cŭnīcŭlum , i, n., acc. to Paul. ex Fest. p. 50, 4, but perh. an acc.; v. Müll. ad loc.), a passage under ground, a hole, pit, cavity, canal, etc.
B. In partic., milit. t. t., a mine, Caes. B. G. 3, 21; 7, 22 (three times); 7, 24; Hirt. B. G. 8, 41; Cic. Phil. 3, 8, 20; id. Caecin. 30, 88; Liv. 5, 19, 10: “ad murum cuniculis pervenire,” id. 31, 17, 2: “occultus vineis,” id. 38, 7, 6; Amm. 24, 4, 13: “cuniculorum fodinae,” id. 24, 4, 21.—
2. Trop.: “quae res aperte petebatur, ea nunc occulte cuniculis oppugnatur,” i. e. by secret devices, Cic. Agr. 1, 1, 1.