I.a biting, a bite.
I. Lit.: contra avium minorum morsus munitur vallo aristarum. Cic. Sen. 15, 51: “serpentis,” id. Fat. 16, 36: “morsu apprehendere,” to bite, Plin. 11, 24, 28, § 84: “morsibus insequi,” Ov. M. 13, 568: “morsu appetere,” Tac. H. 4, 42: “nec tu mensarum morsus horresce futuros,” the eating, Verg. A. 3, 394: “mucida frusta farinae ... non admittentia morsum,” Juv. 5, 69: “vertere morsus Exiguam in Cererem penuria adegit edendi,” their bites, their teeth, id. ib. 7, 112 ; so, “zonam morsu tenere,” by the teeth, Juv. 14, 297.—
B. Transf.
1. A catching hold; and, concr., that which takes hold, a catch (of a buckle, etc.; poet.): “quā fibulā morsus Loricae crebro laxata resolverat ictu,” Sil. 7, 624: “roboris,” i. e. the cleft of the tree which held fast the javelin, Verg. A. 12, 782: “patulis agitatos morsibus ignes spirent,” Grat. Falisc. 270.—
2. Sharpness of flavor, sharp taste, pungency: “nec cibus ipse juvat morsu fraudatus aceti,” Mart. 7, 25, 5: “marinus,” acrid quality, Plin. 36, 26, 65, § 191: “et scabros nigrae morsu rubiginis enses,” i. e. a corroding, consuming, Luc. 1, 243.—
II. Trop., a bite, sting, pain, vexation, etc.: “(carmina) odio obscuro morsuque venenare,” a malicious attack, Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 38: “perpetui curarum morsus,” gnawings, pains, Ov. P. 1, 1, 73: “doloris,” a bite, sting, Cic. Tusc. 4, 7, 15: “libertatis intermissae,” id. Off. 2, 7, 24: “dubiā morsus famae depellere pugnā,” Sil. 2, 271.
