Lewis & Short

2. morsus, ūs, m. [mordeo], a biting, a bite.

  1. I. Lit.: contra avium minorum morsus munitur vallo aristarum. Cic. Sen. 15, 51: serpentis, id. Fat. 16, 36: morsu apprehendere, to bite, Plin. 11, 24, 28, § 84: morsibus insequi, Ov. M. 13, 568: morsu appetere, Tac. H. 4, 42: nec tu mensarum morsus horresce futuros, the eating, Verg. A. 3, 394: mucida frusta farinae … non admittentia morsum, Juv. 5, 69: vertere morsus Exiguam in Cererem penuria adegit edendi, their bites, their teeth, id. ib. 7, 112; so, zonam morsu tenere, by the teeth, Juv. 14, 297.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. A catching hold; and, concr., that which takes hold, a catch (of a buckle, etc.; poet.): quā fibulā morsus Loricae crebro laxata resolverat ictu, Sil. 7, 624: roboris, i. e. the cleft of the tree which held fast the javelin, Verg. A. 12, 782: patulis agitatos morsibus ignes spirent, Grat. Falisc. 270.
      2. 2. Sharpness of flavor, sharp taste, pungency: nec cibus ipse juvat morsu fraudatus aceti, Mart. 7, 25, 5: marinus, acrid quality, Plin. 36, 26, 65, § 191: et scabros nigrae morsu rubiginis enses, i. e. a corroding, consuming, Luc. 1, 243.
  2. II. Trop., a bite, sting, pain, vexation, etc.: (carmina) odio obscuro morsuque venenare, a malicious attack, Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 38: perpetui curarum morsus, gnawings, pains, Ov. P. 1, 1, 73: doloris, a bite, sting, Cic. Tusc. 4, 7, 15: libertatis intermissae, id. Off. 2, 7, 24: dubiā morsus famae depellere pugnā, Sil. 2, 271.