Lewis & Short

1. lăcertus, i, m., the muscular part of the arm, from the shoulder to the elbow, the upper arm.

  1. I. Lit., opp. bracchium, the forearm, Lucr. 4, 829; cf.: laudat digitosque manusque, Bracchiaque et nudos mediā plus parte lacertos, Ov. M. 1, 501; and: subjecta lacertis brachia sunt, id. ib. 14, 304; cf. also Quint. 8 prooem. 19: brachia quoque et lacertos auro colunt, Curt. 8, 9, 21.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. The arm (esp. as brawny, muscular): nam scutum gladium galeam in onere nostri milites non plus numerant quam umeros, lacertos, manus, Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 37: Milo Crotoniates nobilitatus ex lateribus et lacertis suis, Cic. de Sen. 9, 27: excusso lacerto telum torquere, Sen. Ben. 2, 6; Prop. 2, 18 (3, 15), 37: lacertos collo imponere, Ov. H. 16, 219: lacerto jaculari, id. Am. 3, 12, 27: amplecti, id. ib. 3, 8, 11: candida cingantur colla lacertis, id. A. A. 2, 457: laevus, Verg. A. 11, 693; Hor. S. 1, 6, 74: adducto contortum hastile lacerto immittit, Verg. A. 11, 561: secto requiem sperare lacerto, Juv. 6, 106.
      Of bees: spicula exacuunt rostris, aptantque lacertos, i. e. make trial of, Verg. G. 4, 74.
    2. B. Transf.
      1. 1. A blow or cast from a strong arm, Sil. 16, 562; 1, 262.
      2. 2. Trop., muscular power, muscle, strength, military force: in Lysia saepe sunt lacerti, sic ut fieri nihil possit valentius, Cic. Brut. 16, 64: hastas oratoris lacertis viribusque torquere, id. de Or. 1, 57, 242: me civilis tulit aestus in arma, Caesaris Augusti non responsura lacertis, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 48; Flor. prooem. § 8: viribus confisus admirandisque lacertis, Juv. 10, 11.