I. Lit., any sea-monster; a whale, shark, sawfish: “postrema immani corpore pistrix (of Scylla),” Verg. A. 3, 427: “in Indico mari pristes ducenum cubitorum,” Plin. 9, 3, 2, § 4: “jamque agmine toto Pistris adest,” Val. Fl. 2, 530: “marina pistrix,” Flor. 3, 5, 16.—
II. Transf.
A. The constellation of the Whale: “ad Pistricis terga,” Cic. Arat. 152: “Auster Pistrin agit,” German. Arat. 358.—
B. A species of swift-sailing ship, Quadrig. ap. Non. 535, 26; Liv. 35, 26, 1.—
2. Name of a ship in the fleet of Æneas, Verg. A. 5, 116.