Lewis & Short

mulco (‡ mulcto, Inscr. Grut. 155, 1), āvi, ātum, 1 (mulcassitis, for mulcaveritis, Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 8), v. a. [Sanscr. root marc, take hold of; of. Gr. μάρπτω, perh. μορφή], to beat, cudgel; to maltreat, handle roughly, injure (class.; syn.: verbero, tundo, pulso).

  1. I. Lit.: ipsum dominum atque omnem famibam Mulcavit usque ad mortem, Ter. Ad 1, 2, 9; Petr. S. 134: aliquem, to illtreat, Plaut. Most. 4, 2, 23: male mulcati clavis ac fustibus repelluntur, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 94: mulcato corpore, with bodies bruised, Tac. A. 1, 70: prostratos verberibus, id. ib. 32.
    Of inanimate things: naves, to injure, damage, Liv. 28, 30, 12.
  2. II. Trop.: scriptores illos male mulcatos, exisse cum Galbā, Cic. Brut. 22, 88 (but in Plaut. Stich. 3, 1, 8, mulcaverim is undoubtedly corrupt, v. Ritschl ad h. l.).