1. pĭlus, i, m., a hair (syn.: villus, seta).
- I. Lit.: capra pilos ministrat ad usum nauticum, Varr. R. R. 2, 11: munitae sunt palpebrae vallo pilorum, Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 143: caudae pilos equinae vellere, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 45: duris aspera crura pilis, Ov. A. A. 3, 194: contra pilum equum fricare, Pelag. Vet. 26: in capite homini plurimus pilus, Plin. 11, 37, 47, § 130.
Prov.: non minus molestum est calvis quam comatis pilos velli, Sen. Tranq. An. 8, 2, 3: propius quidem est a sole mons quam campus aut valles, sed sic, quomodo est pilus pilo crassior, Sen. Q. N. 4, 11, 4.
- II. Transf.
- A. Collect., hair, the hair: fruticante pilo neglecta et squalida crura, Juv. 9, 15.
- B. As a designation of insignificance, a hair, a trifle; usually joined with a negative, not a hair, not a bit, not a whit (class.): ego ne pilo quidem minus me amabo, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 16, 5: interea e Cappadociā ne pilum quidem, id. Att. 5, 20, 6: ne ullum pilum viri boni habere dicatur, has not a hair of a good man about him, id. Rosc. Com. 7, 20: non facit pili cohortem, does not value it a straw, Cat. 10, 13; cf.: nec pili facit uni, cares not a pin about it, id. 17, 16.
In plur., a garment or fabric made of hair: vestitus pilis cameli, Vulg. Marc. 1, 6.