Lewis & Short

vellĭco, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [vello], to pluck, twitch, pinch, nip (syn. carpo).

  1. I. Lit.: cornix vulturios vellicat, Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 148: puer, quid fieret, interrogatus, a paedagogo se vellicari respondit, Quint. 6, 1, 41: saetas, Nemes. Ecl. 3, 32: vellicata blande auricula suscitavit, Paul. Nol. Ep. 36, 3.
    1. B. Transf., of bees: nullius opus, to suck, Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 7.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. To wake up, arouse by twitching: excitandus e somno et vellicandus est animus admonendusque, Sen. Ep. 20, 11; 63, 1.
    2. B. To pluck or twitch in speaking, i. e. to twit, taunt, carp, rail at (cf. rodo): contemplent, conspiciant omnes, nutent, nectent, sibilent, vellicent, vocent, etc., Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 73: more hominum invident, in conviviis rodunt, in circulis vellicant, maledico dente carpunt, Cic. Balb. 26, 57: quod vellicet absentem Demetrius, Hor. S. 1, 10, 79; cf.: nullum est tam plenum beneficium, quod non vellicare malignitas possit, belittle, Sen. Ben. 2, 28, 2: (puella) te vellicet, Prop. 2, 5, 8; Gell. 4, 15, 1.