I.a little eye, eyelet (mostly poet.).
I. Lit.: “blanda quies furtim vietis obrepsit ocellis,” Ov. F. 3, 19: “ut in ocellis hilaritudo est!” Plaut. Rud. 2, 4, 8: “turgiduli,” Cat. 3, 17: “ebrii,” id. 43, 11: “irati,” Ov. Am. 2, 8, 15: “acre malum semper stillantis ocelli,” Juv. 6, 109: “si prurit frictus ocelli angulus,” id. 6, 578.—As a term of endearment: “ocelle mi!” my little eye! my darling! Plaut. Trin. 2, 1, 18: “aureus,” id. As. 3, 3, 101: jucundissimus meus, Aug. ap. Gell. 15, 7, 3: “cave despuas, ocelle,” Cat. 50, 19.—So of things, like our apple of the eye: “cur ocellos Italiae, villulas meas, non vides?” Cic. Att. 16, 6, 2: “insularum,” Cat. 31, 1.—
II. Transf., a bulb or knob on the roots of the reed (called also oculus), Plin. 21, 4, 10, § 20.
