I.gen. querci, Pall. 4, 7, 8; gen. plur. quercorum, Cic. Fragm. ap. Prisc. p. 717 P.; dat. and abl. plur. do not occur), f. perh. from root kar (kal-k), to be hard; cf.: cornu calx, calculus.
I. An oak, oaktree, esp. the Italian or esculent oak, sacred to Jupiter (cf. robur): quercus dicitur, quod id genus arboris grave sit ac durum, tum etiam in ingentem evadat amplitudinem: querqueram enim gravem et magnam putant dici, Paul. ex Fest. p. 259 Müll.: percellunt magnas quercus, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 2 (Ann. v. 194 Vahl.): “magna Jovis quercus,” Verg. G. 3, 332: “glandiferae,” Lucr. 5, 939; Cic. Leg. 1, 1, 2: “aëriae,” Verg. A. 3, 680: “quercus et ilex Multā fruge pecus juvat,” Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 9: “auritae,” id. C. 1, 12, 12: “aridae,” id. ib. 4, 13, 10: “durior annosā quercu,” Ov. M. 13, 799: quercorum rami, Cic. Fragm. ap. Prisc. p. 717 P.—
II. Poet., transf.
A. ?*!f things made of oak-wood. Of a ship, of the ship Argo, Val. Fl. 5, 65.— Of a javelin, Val. Fl. 6, 243.— Of a drinkingvessel, Sil. 7, 190.— “Capitolina,” a garland of oak-leaves, Juv. 6, 386; “usually bestowed upon one who had saved the life of a citizen in battle,” Ov. F. 4, 953; id. M. 1, 563; Luc. 1, 357: “civilis,” Verg. A. 6, 772. —
B. For acorns (very rare): “veteris fastidia quercūs,” Juv. 14, 184.