Lewis & Short

2. tortus, ūs, m. [torqueo].

  1. I. a twisting, winding; a wreath (poet.): tortu multiplicabili Draco, Cic. poët. Tusc. 2, 9, 22: draco tortu terribilis, id. poët. Div. 2, 30, 63.
    In plur.: serpens Nequicquam longos fugiens dat corpore tortus, Verg. A. 5, 276: bucinarum, Arn. 6, 196.
  2. * II. A whirling, hurling: flexae habenae, Stat. Achill. 2, 421.