I.that may be hurled or cast, that is thrown or hurled, missile (not in Cic. or Cæs.): “lapides missiles,” slingstones, Liv. 1, 43: “telum,” id. 22, 37: “ferro, quod nunc missile libro,” a javelin, Verg. A. 10, 421: “sagittae,” Hor. C. 3, 6, 16: “uni sibi missile ferrum,” which he alone can launch, Stat. Th. 8, 524: “aculei (of the porcupine),” capable of being shot forth, Plin. 8, 35, 53, § 125.—
II. Subst.
A. missĭle , is, n., a missile weapon, missile, a javelin: “missilibus Lacedaemonii pugnabant,” Liv. 34, 39; in plur.: “missilibus lacessere,” Verg. A. 10, 716: “pellere missilibus,” id. ib. 9, 520; 10, 802; in sing., Luc. 7, 485.—
B. missĭlĭa , ĭum, n., or res missiles, presents thrown by the emperors among the people: “sparsa et populo missilia omnium rerum,” Suet. Ner. 11; cf.: “jocandi licentia diripiendi pomorum, et obsoniorum rerumque missilium,” id. Aug. 98.—*
2. Trop.: “ad haec, quae a fortunā sparguntur, sinum expandit et sollicitus missilia ejus exspectat,” Sen. Ep. 74, 6.