Lewis & Short

† phăsēlus (phăsell- and făs-), i, m. and f., = φάσηλος.

  1. I. Lit., a kind of bean with an edible pod, French beans, kidney-beans, phasel (phaseolus vulgaris of Linn.): viciamque seres vilemque phaselum, Verg. G. 1, 227: longa fasellus, Col. 10, 377; v. id. 2, 10, 4; Pall. 10, 12.
  2. II. Transf., a light vessel (in the shape of a kidney-bean) made of wicker-work or papyrus, sometimes also of burned and painted clay (cf.: celox, lembus): epistulam de phaselo dare, Cic. Att. 1, 13, 1: phaselus ille quem videtis, Cat. 4, 1: phaselon solvere, Hor. C. 3, 2, 29: dare vela fictilibus phaselis, Juv. 15, 127: pictam phaselon, Mart. 10, 30, 13.