Lewis & Short

flābellum, i, n. dim. [flabrum], a smali fan or fly-flap.

  1. I. Lit.: cape hoc flabellum, et ventulum huic sic facito, Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 47; 50; Mart. 3, 82, 10; for this a peacock’s tail was used, Prop. 2, 24 (3, 18), 11; Hier. Ep. 27, 13.
  2. * II. Trop.: cujus lingua quasi flabello seditionis, illa tum est egentium concio ventilata, an exciter, Cic. Fl. 23, 54.