I.a circle, esp. that which is described by a horse in its movements (mostly poet.; cf.: circus, circulus, orbis, orbita).
I. Lit.: “nec equi variare gyros in morem nostrum docentur,” Tac. G. 6; so of a circular course, ring, for horses, Verg. G. 3, 115: “carpere gyrum,” id. ib. 3, 191: “curvo brevius compellere gyro,” Tib. 4, 1, 93; Manil. 5, 74; Ov. A. A. 3, 384; Luc. 1, 425 et saep.: “adytis cum lubricus anguis ab imis Septem ingens gyros, septena volumina traxit,” Verg. A. 5, 85: “ducensque per aëra gyros Miluus,” Ov. Am. 2, 6, 33: “apes gyros volatu edunt,” Plin. 11, 20, 22, § 68: “grues gyros quosdam indecoro cursu peragunt,” id. 10, 23, 30, § 59: “quem (turbinem) pueri magno in gyro...intenti ludo exercent,” Verg. A. 7, 379: “in gyrum Euripo addito (in Circo),” i. e. around, round about, Suet. Caes. 39.—
B. Transf., the place where horses are trained, a course (poet.): “gyrum pulsat equis,” Prop. 3, 14 (4, 13), 11.—
II. Trop., a circle, circuit, career, course: mensis artiore (quam annus) praecingitur circulo; “angustissimum habet dies gyrum,” Sen. Ep. 12; cf.: “seu bruma nivalem Interiore diem gyro trahit,” Hor. S. 2, 6, 26: “similique gyro venient aliorum vices,” circuit, course, Phaedr. 4, 26, 25: “homines secundis rebus effrenatos tamquam in gyrum rationis et doctrinae duci oportere,” Cic. Off. 1, 26, 70: “oratorem in exiguum gyrum compellere,” id. de Or. 3, 19, 70; Prop. 3, 3 (4, 2), 21; cf.: “attrahe vela Fortius et gyro curre, poëta, tuo,” Ov. R. Am. 398: “in dialecticae gyris consenescere,” Gell. 16, 8, 17.
