I.a singing-bird, esp. in the auspices; a divining-bird, from whose notes auguries were taken (e. g. the raven, crow, owl): aves aut oscines sunt, aut praepetes: oscines, quae ore futura praedicunt; “praepetes, quae volatu augurium significant,” Serv. Verg. A. 3, 361; Cic. Fam. 6, 6, 13: “oscinem corvum prece suscitabo,” Hor. C. 3, 27, 11; Plin. 10, 19, 22, § 43; App. de Deo Soc. p. 45, 29: “Phoebeius,” i. e. the crow metamorphosed by Phœbus, Aus. Idyll. 11, 15.
oscen , ĭnis, m. (but f. ap. Varr. L. L. 6, 7, 67; Plin. 10, 19, 22, § 43) [obscen, from obs-cano],