Lewis & Short

excepto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. freq. a. [excipio], to take out, to take up, catch (very rare): barbatulos nullos exceptans de piscina, * Cic. Par. 5, 2, 38; so, aliquem, * Caes. B. G. 7, 47 fin.: (equae) exceptant leves auras, catch up., i. e. snuff up, * Verg. G. 3, 274; cf. poet.: per pectora saevas Exceptat mortes, * Sil. 9, 369.