Lewis & Short

pellis, is (abl. sing. pelle; but pelli, Lucr. 6, 1270; App. Mag. 22), f. [Gr. πέλλα, πέλας, skin; cf. ἐρυσίπελας, ἐπιπολή, surface; also, πλατύς, and Lat. palam], a skin, hide (of a beast), whether on the body or taken off; a felt, pelt, etc.

  1. I. Lit., Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 6: inaurata arietis, Enn. ap. Auct. Her. 2, 22, 34 (Trag. v. 285 Vahl.): rana rugosam inflavit pellem, Phaedr. 1, 23, 4; Col. 6, 13, 2: nationes caprarum pellibus vestitae, Varr. R. R. 2, 11, 11; cf.: quam tu numquam vides nisi cum pelle caprinā, Cic. N. D. 1, 29, 82: pelles pro velis, Caes. B. G. 3, 13: fulvique insternor pelle leonis, Verg. A. 2, 722: pelles perficere, Plin. 24, 11, 56, § 94: pelles candidas conficere, id. 13, 6, 13, § 55: pecudes aureas habuisse pelles tradiderunt, Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 6.
    Poet., of the human skin: frigida pellis Duraque, Lucr. 6, 1194: ossa atque pellis tota est, Plaut. Aul. 3, 6, 28; id. Capt. 1, 2, 32: pellis nostra, Vulg. Thren. 5, 10; id. Job, 10, 11; 19, 20: pellem habere Hercules fingitur, ut homines cultus antiqui admoneantur. Lugentes quoque diebus luctus in pellibus sunt, Paul. ex Fest. p. 207 Müll.; cf.: deformem pro cute pellem aspice, Juv. 10, 192.
    Prov.: detrahere pellem, i. e. to pull off the mask which conceals a person’s faults, Hor. S. 2, 1, 64: introrsum turpis, speciosus pelle decorā, with a showy outside, id. Ep. 1, 16, 45: cf. Pers. 4, 14: in propriā pelle quiescere, to be content with one’s own state or condition, Hor. S. 1, 6, 22 (v. pellicula): caninam pellem rodere, said of lampooning a slanderer, Mart. 5, 60, 10: pellem pro pelle, et cuncta quae habet homo dabit pro animā suā, Vulg. Job, 2, 4: si mutare potest Aethiops pellem suam, id. Jer. 13, 23.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. Leather: ruptā calceus alter Pelle patet, Juv. 3, 150.
    2. B. A garment, article of clothing made of skin, Col. 1, 8; cf. Ov. Tr. 3, 10, 19: pes in pelle natet, in the shoe, id. A. A. 1, 516; Pers. 5, 140.
    3. C. A tent for soldiers (because it was covered with skins); usually in the phrase sub pellibus, in the camp: ut non multum imperatori sub ipsis pellibus otii relinquatur, Cic. Ac. 2, 2, 4: sub pellibus milites contineri non possent, Caes. B. G. 3, 29 fin.: (Caesar) sub pellibus hiemare constituit, id. B. C. 3, 13 fin.; cf. Liv. 37, 39: durare sub pellibus, id. 5, 2; Tac. A. 13, 35; 14, 38: pellium nomine, for covering shields, Cic. Pis. 36, 87.
    4. D. Parchment: pellibus exiguis artatur Livius ingens, on little parchments, Mart. 14, 190, 1.
    5. E. A drum: pelles caedere, Min. Fel. 24, 4.