Lewis & Short

făvilla, ae, f. [Sanscr. root bhā-, to shine; Gr. φα-, φῶς, etc., cf. Lat. fax], hot cinders or ashes, glowing ashes, embers (cf. cinis).

  1. I. Lit. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): ibi favillae plena coquendo sit faxo (psaltria). Ter. Ad. 5, 3, 60: scintillas agere ac late differre favillam, Lucr. 2, 675; cf. Ov. M. 7, 80; and: cum contectus ignis ex se favillam discutit scintillamque emittit, Plin. 18, 35, 84, § 358: candens, Verg. A. 3, 573: cana, Ov. M. 8, 525: e carbone restincto favilla digito sublata, Plin. 26, 11, 72, § 118: cinis e favilla et carbonibus ad calefaciendum triclinium illatus, Suet. Tib. 74: nihil invenit praeter tepidam in ara favillam, id. Galb. 18: vi pulveris ae favillae oppressus est. (Plinius), Suet. Fragm. Hist., ed. Roth, p. 301.
      1. 2. In partic., the ashes of the dead still glowing: corporis favillam ab reliquo separant cinere, Plin. 19, 11, 4, § 19: ibi tu calentem Debita sparges lacrima favillam Vatis amici, Hor. C. 2, 6, 23; Tib. 3, 2, 10; Prop. 1, 19, 19; Verg. A. 6, 227; Ov. F. 3, 561.
    1. B. Transf.: salis, powder of salt, Plin. 31, 7, 42, § 90.
  2. * II. Trop., a glimmering spark, i. e. beginning, origin: haec est venturi prima favilla mali, Prop. 1, 9, 18.