Lewis & Short

sălīva, ae, f. [kindr. with σίαλον], spittle, saliva (in gen., while sputum is that already spit out; equally used in sing. and plur.).

  1. I. Lit., sing., Cat. 23, 16; 78, 8; 99, 10; Juv. 6, 623; Sen. Ira, 3, 38, 2; Plin. 27, 6, 24, § 41; 28, 12, 53, § 193: in manum ingerere, id. 28, 4, 7, § 37 al.
    Plur., Lucr. 4, 638; 4, 1108; Col. 6, 9, 3: unā salivā, without interruption, Hier. ad Pam. 61, 4.
    1. B. Transf., a spittle-like moisture, slime: cochlearum, slime, Plin. 30, 15, 47, § 136; cf. ostrearum, id, 32, 6, 21, § 60: purpurarum, id. 9, 36, 60, § 128: lacrimationum, id. 11, 37, 54, § 147: siderum (honey-dew), id. 11, 12, 12, § 30.
  2. II. Trop., taste, flavor; longing, appetite (poet., and in post-Aug. prose): Methymnaei Graia saliva meri, Prop. 4 (5), 8, 38; cf.: suo cuique vino saliva, Plin. 23, 1, 22, § 40: mercurialis, for gain, Pers. 5, 112: turdarum, id. 6, 24: Aetna tibi salivam movet, makes your mouth water, Sen. Ep. 79, 7: quicquid (sc. vinum) ad salivam facit, Petr. 48, 2.