Lewis & Short

pungo, pŭpŭgi, punctum, 3 (old fut. perf. pepugero, Att. ap. Gell. 7, 9, 10; perf. punxi, acc. to Diom. p. 369 P.: pupungi, in pungit, punxit, pupungit, Not. Tir. p. 131; scanned pŭpūgi, Prud. στεφ. 9, 59), v. a. [root pug-, to thrust, strike, whence also pugil, pugnus; Gr. πύξ, etc.], to prick, puncture (class.).

  1. I. Lit.: aliquem, Cic. Sest. 10, 24: acu comatoriā mihi malas pungebat, Petr. 21: vulnus quod acu punctum videretur, Cic. Mil. 24, 65.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. * 1. To pierce into, penetrate, enter: corpus, Lucr. 2, 460 (v. the passage in connection).
      2. 2. To affect sensibly, to sting, bite: ut pungat colubram: cum pupugerit, etc., Varr. ap. Prisc. p. 894 P.: pungunt sensum, Lucr. 4, 625: aliquem manu, to pinch, Petr. 87 fin.: nitrum adulteratum pungit, has a pungent taste, Plin. 31, 10, 46, § 114.
      3. 3. To press, hasten: futura pungunt, nec se superari sinunt, Pub. Syr. v. 177 Rib.
  2. II. Trop., to prick, sting, vex, grieve, trouble, disturb, afflict, mortify, annoy, etc.: scrupulus aliquem stimulat ac pungit, Cic. Rosc. Am. 2, 6: epistula illa ita me pupugit, ut somnum mihi ademerit, id. Att. 2, 16, 1: jamdudum meum ille pectus pungit aculeus, Plaut. Trin. 4, 2, 158: pungit me, quod scribis, etc., Cic. Fam. 7, 15, 1: si paupertas momordit, si ignominia pupugit, id. Tusc. 3, 34, 82: quos tamen pungit aliquid, id. ib. 5, 35, 102: odi ego, quos numquam pungunt suspiria somnos, Prop. 3, 8 (4, 7), 27.
    Hence, punctus, a, um, P. a., pricked in, like a point; hence, of time: puncto tempore (cf.: puncto temporis; v. infra), in an instant, in a moment (only in Lucr.), Lucr. 2, 263; 456; 1006; 4, 216; 6, 230.
    Hence, subst. in two forms.
  1. I. punctum, i, n., that which is pricked or pricked in, a point, small hole, puncture.
    1. A. Lit. (very rare), Mart. 11, 45, 6.
    2. B. Transf.
      1. 1. A point, small spot (as if made by pricking): ova punctis distincta, Plin. 10, 52, 74, § 144: gemma sanguineis punctis, id. 37, 8, 34, § 113: puncta quae terebrantur acu, Mart. 11, 46, 2: ferream frontem convulnerandam praebeant punctis, i. e. with the marks of slavery, Plin. Pan. 35.
        1. b. In partic.
          1. (α) A point made in writing, Aus. Epigr. 35, 1; 145, 5; as a punctuation mark, Diom. p. 432 P.
          2. (β) A mathematical point. Cic. Ac. 2, 36, 116.
          3. (γ) A point or spot on dice: quadringenis in punctum sestertiis aleam lusit, Suet. Ner. 30; Aus. Prof. 1, 29.
          4. (δ) A point or dot as the sign of a vote, made in a waxen tablet, before the introduction of separate ballots; hence, transf., a vote, suffrage, ballot, Cic. Planc. 22, 53; id. Mur. 34, 72; id. Tusc. 2, 26, 62.
            Hence, poet., applause, approbation: omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci, Hor. A. P. 343: discedo Alcaeus puncto illius, id. Ep. 2, 2, 99; Aus. Grat. Act. ad Grat. 5.
            (ε) A point on the bar of a steelyard, indicating the weight: diluis helleborum, certo compescere puncto nescius examen, Pers. 5, 100.
      2. 2. A small part of any thing divided or measured off, e.g.,
        1. a. A small weight, Pers. 5, 100.
        2. b. A small liquid measure, Front. Aquaed. 25.
        3. c. A small portion of time, an instant, a moment (cf. momentum): puncto temporis eodem, in the same moment, Cic. Sest. 24, 53; cf.: ne punctum quidem temporis, id. Phil. 8, 7, 20; Ter. Phorm. 1, 4, 7: nullo puncto temporis intermisso, id. N. D. 1, 20, 52; Caes. B. C. 2, 14.
          In plur.: omnibus minimis temporum punctis, Cic. N. D. 1, 24, 67: animi discessus a corpore fit ad punctum temporis, id. Tusc. 1, 34, 82: temporis puncto omnes Uticam relinquunt, Caes. B. C. 2, 25 fin.; Plin. Pan. 56: horae, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 172: diei, Lucr. 4, 201.
          Rarely absol.: punctum est quod vivimus et adhuc puncto minus, Sen. Ep. 49, 14, 3: puncto brevissimo dilapsa domus, App. M. 9, p. 235, 30; cf.: quod momentum, quod immo temporis punctum, aut beneficio sterile aut vacuum laude, Plin. Pan. 56, 2; Vulg. Isa. 54, 7.
        4. d. In space, a point: ipsa terra ita mihi parva visa est, ut me imperii nostri, quo quasi punctum ejus attingimus, poeniteret, Cic. Rep. 6, 16, 16.
        5. e. In discourse, a small portion, brief clause, short section, Cic. Par. prooem. § 2; id. de Or. 2, 41, 177; Aus. Idyll. 12 prooem.
  2. II. puncta, ae, f. (very rare), a prick, puncture, Veg. Mil. 1, 12.