I.an eyelid (usually in plur.; cf. cilium).
I. Lit.: “palpebrae sunt tegmenta oculorum ... munitaeque sunt palpebrae tamquam vallo pilorum, etc.,” Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 142: ipsae palpebrae, quibus mobilitas inest, et palpitatio vocabulum tribuit, etc., Lact. Opif. Dei, 10 init.; Lucr. 4, 952: “Regulum resectis palpebris vigilando necaverunt,” Cic. Pis. 19, 43; cf. Tubero ap. Gell. 6, 4, 3.—In sing., Cels. 5, 26, 23.—
II. Transf.
1. Plur., the eyelashes, Plin. 11, 37, 56, § 154; 25, 13, 99, § 156.—
2. Plur., the eyes (eccl. Lat.): “palpebrae ejus interrogant filios hominum,” Vulg. Psa. 10, 4.