I.a sharp knife.
B. Esp.
1. A razor: “ut ex novaculā comperistis, tonsor est,” Petr. 103: “aream (capitis) novaculā radere,” Cels. 6, 4: “nudare caput,” Mart. 2, 66, 7: “secare fauces,” Suet. Calig. 23; Plin. 29, 6, 34, § 107: “Tarquinius dixit, se cogitāsse, cotem novaculā posse praecidi,” Cic. Div. 1, 17, 32; cf. Liv. 1, 36; Val. Max. 1, 4, 1.—
2. A dagger: “stringitur in densā nec caeca novacula turbā,” Mart. 7, 61, 7.—
II. Transf., the name of a fish, otherwise unknown, Plin. 32, 2, 5, § 14.