Lewis & Short

sūbŭla, ae, f.

  1. I. Lit., an awl, Mart. 3, 16, 2: aënea, Col. 6, 5, 4; Pall. Jun. 14, 3: perforabit aurem ejus subulā, Vulg. Exod. 21, 6; id. Deut. 15, 17.
  2. II. Transf., a very small weapon: subulā armatus, Sen. Ep. 85, 1; cf. prov.: subulā leonem excipis, id. ib. 82, 25.