I.a small hollow or cavity.
I. A tray, trough, basin: “alveolus ligneus,” Phaedr. 2, 5; * Liv. 28, 45; so Juv. 5, 88; Col. 8, 5, 13: intriverat panes in alveolo, * Vulg. Dan. 13, 32.—
II. (In Paul. ex Fest. p. 8 Müll., as neutr.: alveolum: tabula aleatoria.) A small gaming-board, upon which the dice were thrown (cf. alveus, C.), Varr. ap. Gell. 1, 20: alveolum poscere, * Cic. Fin. 5, 20.—
III. The small channel of a river, Curt. 6, 4.—
IV. And from its shape, a weaver's shuttle (cf. Germ. Schiff), Hier. Ep. 130.