I. A young animal, young, a foal (cf. fetus): “asininus,” Varr. R. R. 2, 8, 2: “equinus,” Col. 6, 29, 1: “onagrorum,” Plin. 8, 44, 69, § 171: “glirium,” Varr. R. R. 3, 15: “ranae,” Hor. S. 2, 3, 314: “columbini,” Cic. Fam. 9, 18: “gallinacei,” Liv. 32, 1; Col. 8, 5, 7: “pavonini,” Varr. R. R. 3, 9: “anserum,” id. ib. 3, 10: “ciconiae,” Juv. 14, 74: “ex ovis pulli orti,” chicks, Cic. N. D. 2, 48, 124: “asinam, et pullum filium,” Vulg. Zach. 9, 9.—
B. In partic., a young fowl, a chicken, Hor. S. 1, 3, 92; 2, 2, 121; id. Ep. 2, 2, 163; Sen. Q. N. 4, 6, 2; cf.: “pulli implumes,” Hor. Epod. 1, 19.—So of the sacred chickens, used in divination: “cum cavea liberati pulli non pascerentur,” Cic. N. D. 2, 3, 8.—
II. Transf.
A. Of persons.
1. As a term of endearment, dove, chick, darling: “meus pullus passer, mea columba,” Plaut. Cas. 1, 50: “strabonem Appellat paetum paeter, et pullum, male parvus Si cui filius est,” Hor. S. 1, 3, 45; Suet. Calig. 13 fin.; M. Aur. ap. Front. Ep. ad Anton. 1, 1 Mai.—
2. Pullus milvinus, qs. young kite, of an avaricious person, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 2, 2, § 6.—
B. Of plants, a sprout, young twig, Cato, R. R. 51; 133; Pall. 4, 9.
