I. Lit., a truncheon or hammer with which the master of the rowers gave signals, and beat time to indicate the proper stroke: tonsas ante tenentes Parerent, observarent, portisculus signum Cum dare coepisset, Enn. ap. Non. 151, 26 (Ann. v. 233 Vahl.); Cato ap. Fest. p. 234 Müll.: nec palmarum pulsus nec portisculi, Laber. ap. Non. 151, 28.—*
II. Trop., guidance, direction: “ad loquendum atque ad tacendum tu ut habes portisculum,” Plaut. As. 3, 1, 15.
