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mūrex , ĭcis, m.
I. The purple-fish, Plin. 9, 36, 60, § 125; Enn. ap. App. Mag. p. 299, 11 (Heduph. v. 11, p. 167 Vahl.): “Baianus,Hor. S. 2, 4, 32.—The Tritons used the shell as a tuba, Val. Fl. 3, 726.—The shells were also used for holding liquids, Mart. 3, 82, 27.—And for adorning grottos: “summa lacunabant alterno murice conchae,Ov. M. 8, 563.—
II. Transf.
A. The purple dye, purple, made from the juice of the purple-fish: “Tyrioque ardebat murice laena,Verg. A. 4, 262.—
B. Of bodies shaped (pointed) like the purplefish.
1. A pointed rock or slone: “acuto in murice remi Obnixi crepuere,Verg. A. 5, 205: “Cato sternendum forum muricibus censuerat,with small, pointed stones, Plin. 19, 1, 6, § 24.—
2. A sharp murex-shell used for a bridle-bit: “acuto murice frenat Delphinas bijuges,Stat. Achill. 1; 221.—
3. A caltrop, with sharp points in every direction: “murices ferreos in terram defodisse Dareum, quā hostem equites emissurum esse credebat,Curt. 4, 13, 36; Val. Max. 3, 7, 2.—
4. A spike of iron: “armarium muricibus praefixum,Gell. 6, 4, 4.
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