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pālus , i, m. (
I.neutr. collat. form pālum , i, Varr. ap. Non. 219, 18) [for paglus (cf. dim. paxillus); root pag-; Sanscr. pācas, snare; Gr. πήγνυμι, fasten; Lat. pango; cf.: pignus, pax], a stake, prop, stay, pale.
I. Lit. (very freq. and class.; “syn.: sudes, stipes): ut figam palum in parietem,Plaut. Mil. 4, 4, 4; id. Men. 2, 3, 53: “damnati ad supplicium traditi, ad palum alligati,Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 5, § 11: “palis adjungere vitem,Tib. 1, 8 (7), 33; Ov. F. 1, 665: “palos et ridicas dolare,Col. 11, 2, 11; Varr. 1. 1.—The Roman soldiers learned to fight by attacking a stake set in the ground, Veg. Mil. 1, 11; 2, 23; “hence, aut quis non vidit vulnera pali?Juv. 6, 246.—And, transf.: exerceamur ad palum: et, ne imparatos fortuna deprehendat, fiat nobis paupertas familiaris, Sen. Ep. 18, 6.—In the lang. of gladiators, palus primus or palusprimus (called also machaera Herculeana, Capitol. Pert. 8), a gladiator's sword of wood, borne by the secutores, whence their leader was also called primus palus, Lampr. Commod. 15; “Inscr. Marin. Fratr. Arv. p. 694.—Prov.: quasi palo pectus tundor, of one astonished, stunned,Plaut. Rud. 5, 2, 2.—
II. Transf., = membrum virile, Hor. S. 1, 8, 5.
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hide References (6 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (6):
    • Cicero, Against Verres, 2.5.11
    • Plautus, Menaechmi, 2.3
    • Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, 4.4
    • Plautus, Rudens, 5.2
    • Seneca, Epistulae, 18.6
    • Ovid, Fasti, 1
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