I.sing. nom. faux only in Cael. Aur. Tard. 2, 11, 127, =arteria aspera; cf. Varr. L. L. 10, § 78 Müll.; Charis. p. 72 P. —The abl. sing. fauce sometimes in poets: Ov. H. 9, 98; id. M. 14, 738; Hor. Epod. 14, 4; Phaedr. 1, 1, 3; 1, 8, 4; Mart. 7, 37, 6 al.), f. cf. Sanscr. bhūka, hole, opening, the upper part of the throat, from the root of the tongue to the entrance of the gullet, the pharynx, throat, gullet (syn.: gula, guttur, jugulum).
I. Lit.: summum gulae fauces vocantur, extremum stomachus; “quibus fauces non sunt, ne stomachus quidem est,” Plin. 11, 37, 68, § 179: “exigua in arteria sub ipsis faucibus lingula est, quae, cum spiramus, attollitur,” Cels. 4, 1: (galli) favent faucibus russis cantu, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 2, 26, 57 (Trag. v. 250 ed. Vahl.): “sitis fauces tenet,” Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 34: “sitis fauces urit,” Hor. S. 1, 2, 214: “lippiunt fauces fame,” Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 39; 1, 2, 36: “fauces tussientes,” Cels. 5, 25, 11: “nuces videntur fauces exasperare,” Plin. 23, 8, 74, § 142: “fauces tumentes strangulant vocem, etc.,” Quint. 11, 3, 20: “infirmatis faucibus, praeconis voce concionatus est,” Suet. Aug. 84 fin.: “propino tibi salutem plenis faucibus,” Plaut. Stich. 3, 2, 16: “merum ingurgitare faucibus plenis,” id. Curc. 1, 2, 39: “exscrea usque ex penitis faucibus,” from the bottom of your throat, id. As. 1, 1, 28: “alicui fauces prehendere,” id. Most. 1, 3, 62; cf.: “qui sacerdoti scelestus fauces interpresserit,” id. Rud. 3, 2, 41: “laqueo innectere fauces,” to strangle, Ov. M. 10, 378; cf. “also: ad necem secandasque novacula fauces,” Suet. Calig. 23: “fauces manu sua oppressit,” id. ib. 12: “retinens singulos et contortis faucibus convertens,” id. Caes. 62.—Trop.: “faucibus teneor,” I am caught by the throat, I feel the knife at my throat, Plaut. Cas. 5, 3, 4; cf.: “cum faucibus premeretur,” Cic. Clu. 31, 84: “Timarchides premit fauces defensionis tuae,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 76, § 176: eripite nos ex faucibus eorum, quorum crudelitas, etc., from the jaws, Crass. ap. Cic. de Or. 1, 52, 225; cf. Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 6, § 19: “urbem totius belli ore ac faucibus ereptam esse,” id. Arch. 9, 21: “e mediis Orci faucibus ad hunc evasi modum,” App. M. 7, p. 191: “cum inexplebiles populi fauces exaruerunt libertatis siti,” Cic. Rep. 1, 43: “lupus fauce improba incitatus,” i. e. voracity, Phaedr. 1, 2, 3.—
II. Transf., of places:
A. A narrow way, narrow inlet or outlet, an entrance, defile, pass (cf. angustiae): Corinthus posita in angustiis atque in faucibus Graeciae, in the mouth or entrance, Cic. Agr. 2, 32, 87: “in Ciliciae angustissimis faucibus,” Curt. 7, 4; cf.: “qua fauces erant angustissimae portus,” Caes. B. C. 1, 25, 5: “portus,” id. ib. 3, 24, 1; “3, 39, 2: Masinissam persecutus in valle arta, faucibus utrimque obsessis, inclusit,” Liv. 29, 32, 4: “Aemilius sedens in faucibus macelli,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 62, § 145; so, “macelli,” id. Quint. 6, 25: “per fauces montis ut Aetnae Exspirent ignes,” the crater, Lucr. 6, 630: “cava flumina siccis faucibus, etc.,” Verg. G. 4, 428: “altae montis,” Lucr. 6, 697: “Nilus multis faucibus in Aegyptium mare se evomit,” through many mouths, Plin. 5, 9, 10, § 54: “Bospori,” the Dardanelles, id. 6, 1, 1, § 4; Sil. 12, 127: “cum fornacem facies, fauces praecipites deorsum facito,” Cato, R. R. 38, 3: pictis e faucibus currus emittere, from the barriers, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 89 ed. Vahl.).—
B. The jaws of the earth, gulf, abyss: “patefactis terrae faucibus,” Cic. N. D. 2, 37, 95.
