I. A painter's brush or pencil: “caudam antiqui penem vocabant, ex quo est propter similitudinem penicillus,” Cic. Fam. 9, 22, 2; id. Or. 22, 74; Quint. 2, 21, 24: “setae e penicillis tectoriis,” Plin. 28, 17, 71, § 235; Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 63.—
B. Transf.
1. Painting. Plin. 35, 9, 36, § 60.—
2. Style of composition: “modo mihi date Britanniam, quam pingam coloribus tuis, penicillo meo,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 15, 2.—
III. A small sponge, Col. 12, 18; Plin. 9, 45, 69, § 148.—
IV. A kind of eye-salve, Inscr. Tōchon, Cachets des Ocul. pp. 66 and 71.