passer

1.

passer, ĕris, m. [for panser, from pando; cf. anser].

I.

Lit., a sparrow, Cic. Fin. 2, 23, 75; cf. Plin. 10, 36, 52, § 107; 10, 38, 54, § 111; 18, 17, 45, § 158; 30, 15, 49, § 141; Cic. Div. 2, 30, 63; 1, 33, 72; Cat. 2, 1 sq.; 3, 3 sq.; Juv. 9, 54; Mart. 11, 6, 16; Juv. 6, 8; Vulg. Lev. 14. 4.—As a term of endearment:

meus pullus passer, mea columba, mi lepus,

Plaut. Cas. 1, 50.—

II.

Transf.

A.

Passer marinus. an ostrich (marinus, because brought from a distance by sea), Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 17; Aus. Ep. 11, 7; Fest. p. 222 Müll.—In this signif. also passer alone, Inscr. Grut. 484, 6.—

B.

A seafish, a turbot, Plin. 9, 20, 36, § 72; Ov. Hal. 125; Hor. S. 2, 8, 29; Col. 8, 16, 7.

2.

Passer, ĕris, m., a Roman surname, Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 2.