Lewis & Short

fĭdĭcŭlae, ārum, and rarely fidicula, ae (syncop. fidicla, Prud. στεφ. 10, 481; 550), f. dim. [2. fides], a small stringed instrument, a small lute or cithern.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: quid si platani fidiculas ferrent numerose sonantes, Cic. N. D. 2, 8, 22.
    2. B. Esp., Fidicula, a constellation, i. q. Fides or Lyra, the Lyre, Col. 11, 2, 37; Plin. 18, 26, 59, § 222.
  2. II. Transf., a cord, line, a sort of instrument of torture (postAug.): apparatus illi reddendus est suus eculei et fidiculae et ergastula et cruces, Sen. de Ira, 3, 3; Suet. Tib. 62; id. Calig. 33; Cod. Th. 9, 35, 1.