I. Lit., a kind of bean with an edible pod, French beans, kidney-beans, phasel (phaseolus vulgaris of Linn.): “viciamque seres vilemque phaselum,” Verg. G. 1, 227: “longa fasellus,” Col. 10, 377; v. id. 2, 10, 4; Pall. 10, 12.—
II. Transf., a light vessel (in the shape of a kidney-bean) made of wicker-work or papyrus, sometimes also of burned and painted clay (cf.: “celox, lembus): epistulam de phaselo dare,” Cic. Att. 1, 13, 1: “phaselus ille quem videtis,” Cat. 4, 1: “phaselon solvere,” Hor. C. 3, 2, 29: “dare vela fictilibus phaselis,” Juv. 15, 127: “pictam phaselon,” Mart. 10, 30, 13.
