μάλη

English (LSJ)

[ᾰ], ἡ,

   A arm-pit, almost confined to the phrase ὑπὸ μάλης under the arm (cf. Ruf.Onom.76), esp. as the place for carrying concealed weapons, ξιφίδια ὑπὸ μ. ἔχοντας X.HG2.3.23; λαβὼν ὑπὸ μ. ἐγχειρίδιον Pl.Grg.469d, cf. Ptol.Euerg.3 J.; δόρυ δῆθ' ὑπὸ μ. ἥκεις ἔχων; Ar. Lys.985: Com., λαγύνιον ἔχων ὑπὸ μ. Diph.3.3; also, of fighting-quails, ὑπὸ μ. λαβεῖν Pl.Lg.789c; κρύπτειν ὑπὸ μ. Luc.Ind.23 (but ὑπὸ μάλην ἔχειν Gall.14); ὑπὸ τὴν μ. πατάξας Plb.Fr.202; παρὰ τὴν μ. ἢ ὑπὸ ζώνην, of a horse, Hippiatr.26.    2 underhand, secretly, οὐδ' ὑπὸ μ. ἡ πρόκλησις γέγονεν, ἀλλ' ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ μέσῃ D.29.12, cf. D.C.46.23.