I.a hook.
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “taleae pedem longae, ferreis hamis infixis, totae in terram infodiebantur,” Caes. B. G. 7, 73 fin.: “hamis ferreis pectitur stupa,” heckles, Plin. 19, 1, 3, § 17: “loricam consertam hamis,” little hooks, Verg. A. 3, 467.—
B. In partic.
1. A fish-hook; hence, in gen., an angle (so most freq.): “hisce hami atque haec harundines sunt nobis quaestu,” Plaut. Rud. 2, 1, 5: divine Plato escam malorum appellat voluptatem, quod ea videlicet homines capiantur, ut pisces hamo, * Cic. de Sen. 13, 44 (al. om. hamo; cf. “Klotz in h. l.): occultum visus decurrere piscis ad hamum,” Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 74; 1, 16, 51; Ov. M. 3, 586; 15, 101; id. H. 19, 13 et saep.: “instrumento piscatoris legato, ... hami quoque et cetera ejusmodi usibus destinata debentur,” Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 66.—
b. Transf., as a figure of enticement, allurement, artifice (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “meus hic est: hamum vorat,” Plaut. Truc. 1, 1, 21; id. Curc. 3, 61: “si vafer unus et alter Insidiatorem praeroso fugerit hamo,” Hor. S. 2, 5, 25: “munera magna quidem misit, sed misit in hamo,” Mart. 6, 63, 5; cf.: “munera illitos cibis hamos aemulabantur,” Plin. Pan. 43 fin. (for which: “viscata hamataque munera,” id. Ep. 9, 30, 2).—
2. A hook as a surgical instrument, Cels. 7, 7, 15.—
II. Transf., of things hooked or crooked, the talons of a hawk, Ov. M. 11, 342; thorns, id. de Nuce, 115; a kind of pastry. App. M. 10, p. 245.
