Lewis & Short

in-cūnābŭla, ōrum, n., swaddlingclothes, swathing-bands.

  1. I. Lit.: fasciis opus est, pulvinis, cunis, incunabulis, Plaut. Truc. 5, 13; id. Am. 5, 1, 52.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. The cradle: Bacchi, Ov. M. 3, 317.
      2. 2. A birthplace: in montes patrios, et ad incunabula nostra pergam, Poët. (perh. Enn.) ap. Cic. Att. 2, 15, 3 (v. Vahl. Enn. p. 81): Jovis, Ov. M. 8, 99: majorum, Just. 31, 8, 4.
      3. 3. Childhood: jam inde ab incunabulis imbutus odio tribunorum, from the cradle, from childhood, Liv. 4, 36 fin.; so, ab primis, Amm. 14, 6, 4; and: in primis vitae incunabulis, Firm. 1, 3.
  2. II. Trop., an origin, beginning: de oratoris quasi incunabulis dicere, Cic. Or. 13, 42: nostrae doctrinae, id. de Or. 1, 6, 23: ab ipsis discendi velut incunabulis, Quint. prooem. 6 Zumpt N. cr.