folliculus

follĭcŭlus, i, m. dim. [follis], a small bag or sack.

I.

Lit.

A.

In gen.:

folliculis frumentum vehere,

Liv. 9, 13, 9:

quidam judicatus est parentem occidisse: ei statim... os obvolutum est folliculo et praeligatum,

Cic. Inv. 2, 50, 149.—Of a matricide:

statim folliculo lupino os obvolutum est,

Auct. Her. 1, 13, 23.—

B.

Esp. (cf. follis, I. B.), a ball to play with, inflated with air; a wind-ball (cf.:

pila, globus, sphaera): post bella civilia ad pilam, folliculumque transiit,

Suet. Aug. 83.—

II.

Transf.

A.

In gen., a husk, pod, shell, skin, follicle:

latentem frugem ruptis velamentis suis, quae folliculos agricolae vocant, adaperire,

Sen. Q. N. 5, 18, 3:

gluma est grani folliculus,

Varr. R. R. 1, 48, 1:

cum spica se exserit folliculo,

Sen. Ep. 124, 11. —So of fruits, Varr. R. R. 1, 48, 1; Col. 2, 8, 5; Plin. 24, 8, 33, § 49; 24, 9, 40, § 65:

folliculus animalium,

id. 30, 12, 37, § 111: muliebris, i. q. vulva, acc. to Serv. Verg. G. 3, 136.— Poet., the shell of an egg:

teretes (cicadarum),

Lucr. 5, 803; and of the human body, as the husk or shell of the soul: ego, si qui sum et quo folliculo sum indutus, queo, Lucil. ap. Non. 110, 27.—

B.

Esp., as med. t. t. (late Lat.).

1.

A sac:

ventris,

Cael. Aur. Acut. 3, 17, 154.—

2.

The bladder, Cael. Aur. Tard. 4, 3, 24.—

3.

The scrotum, Cael. Aur. Acut. 3, 17, 165; id. Tard. 3, 8, 106;

called in full, folliculum genitale,

id. ib. 3, 8, 104.