murex

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

mūrex: ĭcis, m.
I The purple-fish, Plin. 9, 36, 60, § 125; Enn. ap. App. Mag. p. 299, 11 (Heduph. v. 11, p. 167 Vahl.): Baianus, Hor. S. 2, 4, 32.—The Tritons used the shell as a tuba, Val. Fl. 3, 726.—The shells were also used for holding liquids, Mart. 3, 82, 27.—And for adorning grottos: summa lacunabant alterno murice conchae, Ov. M. 8, 563.—
II Transf.
   A The purple dye, purple, made from the juice of the purple-fish: Tyrioque ardebat murice laena, Verg. A. 4, 262.—
   B Of bodies shaped (pointed) like the purplefish.
   1    A pointed rock or slone: acuto in murice remi Obnixi crepuere, Verg. A. 5, 205: Cato sternendum forum muricibus censuerat, with small, pointed stones, Plin. 19, 1, 6, § 24.—
   2    A sharp murex-shell used for a bridle-bit: acuto murice frenat Delphinas bijuges, Stat. Achill. 1; 221.—
   3    A caltrop, with sharp points in every direction: murices ferreos in terram defodisse Dareum, quā hostem equites emissurum esse credebat, Curt. 4, 13, 36; Val. Max. 3, 7, 2.—
   4    A spike of iron: armarium muricibus praefixum, Gell. 6, 4, 4.