I.masc.: pecudi marito, Enn. ap. Prisc. p. 659 P. or Trag. v. 336 Vahl.—Nom. sing., Caesar ap. Prisc. p. 719; cf. Charis. p. 72.—Plur. collat. form, neutr., pecuda, Att., Sisenn., and Cic. ap. Non. 159, 11; v. infra), f. same root with pecu and pecus, ŏris, a single head of cattle, a beast, brute, animal, one of a herd (opp.: pecus, pecŏris, cattle collectively; different from animal, which includes man).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “Neptuni pecudes terrestres pecudes,” Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 45: “squammigerum pecudes,” the fishes, Lucr. 2, 343: “genus aequoreum, pecudes pictaeque volucres,” land animals, Verg. G. 3, 243: “genera pecudum ferarum,” Varr. R. R. 2, 1: anates buxeis rostris pecudes, Varr. ap. Non. 460, 9: “quā pecude (sc. sue) nihil genuit natura fecundius,” Cic. N. D. 2, 64, 160: “quantum natura hominis pecudibus reliquisque bestiis antecedat,” domestic animals, id. Off. 1, 30, 105: “ista non modo homines, sed ne pecudes quidem mihi passurae esse videntur,” id. Cat. 2, 9, 20; id. Att. 1, 16, 6.—Plur. neutr. pecuda: vagant, pavore pecuda in tumulis deserunt, Att. ap. Non. 159, 11; Sisenn. ap. Non. 159, 17: cum adhibent in pecuda pastores, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 159, 13.—
B. In partic.
1. A head of small cattle, one of a flock: “at variae crescunt pecudes armenta feraeque,” Lucr. 5, 228.—
2. A sheep: “haedi cornigeras norunt matres, agnique petulci balantum pecudes,” Lucr. 2, 369; Ov. F. 4, 903: “pecudem spondere sacello Balantem,” Juv. 13, 232: “pecus et caprae,” Plin. 24, 11, 53, § 90.—
3. Collectively, = 1. pecus, id genus pecudis, horses, Col. 6, 27, 13.—
II. Transf., as a term of reproach for an ignorant, stupid, or filthy person, a beast, brute: “istius, pecudis ac putidae carnis consilium,” Cic. Pis. 9, 19: “istius impurissimae atque intemperantissimae pecudis sordes,” id. ib. 29, 72; id. Phil. 8, 3, 9; cf.: “Gaius Caesar pecudem auream eum appellare solitus est,” Tac. A. 13, 1.
