I.“ovis mas,” Varr. L. L. 5, 98; cf.: “ovis semimas,” Ov. F. 1, 588; cf. Fest. p. 195 Müll.) [kindr. with Sanscr. avi, ovis; Lith. awi-s; Slav. ovjza; Gr. ὄϊς; cf. also Goth. avistr, ovile], a sheep (class.).
I. Lit.: “oves scabrae, glabrae,” Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 140: “cum fervit maxime, tam placidum quasi ovem reddo,” Ter. Ad. 4, 1, 18; Cic. N. D. 2, 63, 158: “multae dictione ovium et boum,” id. Rep. 2, 9, 16: “ovis bona,” Plaut. Bacch. 5, 2, 11: “aurata,” Ov. H. 6, 2: “infirmae,” Hor. Epod. 2, 10: “lanigera,” Verg. A. 3, 660: “Milesiae,” Col. 7, 2, 3: “nigra,” Verg. G. 4, 546: “pinguis,” id. E. 6, 5: “placida,” Ov. M. 13, 927: “custos ovium,” Verg. G. 1, 17: “magistri ovium,” id. E. 2, 33: “tondere oves,” Hor. Ep. 2, 10.— “Prov.: ovem lupo committere,” to appoint the wolf shepherd, Ter. Eun. 5, 1, 16; cf.: “O praeclarum custodem ovium, ut ajunt, lupum,” Cic. Phil. 3, 11, 27.—
II. Transf.
B. Sheep, for simpleton, ninny, fool, Plaut. Bacch. 5, 2, 3, q. v. 15.