I.a little mouse.
I. Lit., Cic. Div. 2, 14, 33; Plin. 27, 7, 28, § 52.—
II. Transf.
A. Of other creatures.
1. A companion of the whale, Plin. 9, 62, 88, § 186; “called musculus marinus,” id. 11, 37, 62, § 165.—
B. Of things.
1. A muscle of the body: “quodcunque musculum laesit,” Cels. 5, 26, 3; 8, 1: “femorum,” Luc. 9, 771.—Trop., muscle, vigor (post-Aug.): “hanc (historiam) ossa, musculi, nervi decent,” vigor, force, Plin. Ep. 5, 8, 10.—
2. In milit. lang., a shed, mantelet (cf.: vinea, testudo); for its form and construction, v. Caes. B. C. 2, 10, 1; id. B. G. 7, 84; Veg. R. Mil. 4, 16.—