Lewis & Short

ex-cūdo, di, sum, 3, v. a., to strike, beat or hammer out.

  1. I. Lit.: silici scintillam, Verg. A. 1, 174: ignem, Plin. 16, 40, 77, § 208.
  2. II. Transf., to hatch out: pullos ex ovis, Cic. N. D. 2, 52, 129; cf. Varr. R. R. 3, 9, 2; 10; 13: anseres aliena ova non excudunt, i. e. do not hatch them, id. ib. 3, 10, 3; § 4; 3, 9, 2; Col. 8, 14, 7.
    1. B. To forge, mould: excudent alii spirantia mollius aera, Verg. A. 6, 848.
    2. C. In gen., to prepare, make any thing: ceras, Verg. G. 4, 57.
    3. D. Trop., of a writing, to compose: excudam aliquid Ἡρακλείδειον, Cic. Att. 15, 27, 2; Plin. Ep. 1, 3, 4; Tac. de Or. 9.