dactylus
ἐξ ὀνύχων λέοντα τεκμαίρεσθαι → judge by the claws, judge by a slight but characteristic mark, small traits give the clue to the character of a person, deduce something from a small indication, identify a lion from its claws
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
dactylus: i, m., = δάκτυλος (
I a finger, hence meton.).
I A sort of muscle: "ab humanorum unguium similitudine appellati," Plin. 9, 61, 87, § 184.—
II A kind of grape, Col. 3, 2, 1; called also dacty-lis, Plin. 14, 3, 4, § 40.—
III A sort of grass, Plin. 24, 19, 119, § 182.—
A precious stone, Plin. 37, 10, 61, § 170.—
The date, Pall. Oct. 12, 1; Apic. 1, 1 al.—
In metre, a dactyl, ¯ ˘ ˘ (in allusion to the three joints of the finger), Cic. Or. 64, 217; id. de Or. 3, 47, 182; Quint. 9, 4, 81 et saep.—
Dactyli Idaei, Δάκτυλοι Ἰδαῖοι, a mythic body of men originally placed on Mt. Ida, in Phrygia, afterwards in the island of Crete; priests of Cybele, and as such regarded as identical with the Corybantes, and with the Samothracian Cabiri, Diom. p. 474 P.; Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 197 (in pure Lat., Idaei Digiti, Cic. N. D. 3, 16, 42).
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
dactўlŭs, ī, m. (δάκτυλος),
1 datte [fruit] : Plin. 13, 46
2 couteau de mer [sorte de coquillage] : Plin. 9, 184
3 sorte de grappe de raisin : Col. Rust. 3, 2, 1
4 sorte de graminée : Plin. 24, 182
5 sorte de pierre précieuse : Plin. 37, 170
6 [métrique] dactyle [composé d’une longue et deux brèves] : Cic. Or. 217 ; Quint. 9, 4, 81. dactulus Diocl. 6, 81.
