Lewis & Short

alvĕus, i, m. (alveum, n., ap. Paul. ex Fest. s. v. naustibulum, p. 169 Müll.) [alvus], a hollow, a cavity.

  1. I. In gen.: vitiosae ilicis alveo, Verg. G. 2, 453.
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. A hollow, deep vessel, a basket, trough, tray; also, a deep cavity, excavation, Cato, R. R. 11, 5: in alveo, id. ib. 11, 81: fluitans alveus, Liv. 1, 4; Plin. 11, 10, 10, § 22: alveus scrobis, Col. 4, 4, 2 al.
    2. B. The hold or hull of a ship: alveos navium, Sall. J. 18, 5: alvei navium quassati, Liv. 23, 34.
      Hence (pars pro toto), a small ship, a boat, skiff: cavatus ex materiā alveus, Vell. 2, 107: accipit alveo Aeneam, Verg. A. 6, 412.
    3. C. A hollowed gaming-board, Varr. ap. Non. 108, 33: alveus cum tesseris lusorius, Plin. 37, 2, 6, § 13; Suet. Claud. 33: alveo et calculis vacare, Val. Max. 8, 8, n. 2.
    4. D. = alvus and alvearium, a beehive (in Pliny, alvus (Jan), q. v. II. C.): gens universa totius alvei consumitur, Col. 9, 4, 3; so id. 9, 4, 1; 9, 9, 4; App. M. 4, p. 150, 37.
    5. E. A bathing-tub: in balneum venit … ut in alveum descenderet, etc., Auct. ad Her. 4, 10; Cic. Cael. 28.
  3. F. The channel or bed of a river: fluminis alveo, Verg. A. 7, 33; id. G. 1, 203: fluminis Ritu feruntur, nunc medio alveo Cum pace delabentis etc., Hor. C. 3, 29, 34: nec quisquam citus aeque Tusco denatat alveo, id. ib. 3, 7, 28 Müll. (not elsewhere): pleno alveo fluere, Quint. 2, 1, 4: alveo navigabile perfodere angustias, i. e. a canal, Plin. 4, 4, 5, § 10: per crepidinem alvei, Vulg. Exod. 2, 5: reversae sunt aquae in alveum suum, ib. Jos. 4, 18 al.