Lewis & Short

† bŏlus, i, m., = βόλος, a throw or cast (ante- and post-class.; cf. jactus).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. Of dice in gaming, a throw: si vis tribus bolis … Th. Quin tu in malam crucem cum bolis, cum bulbis, Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 13: nimis lepide jecisti bolum, id. Rud. 2, 2, 30: enumerare bolos, Aus. Prof. 1, 26.
    2. B. A cast of the net in fishing; and meton., the cast, i. e. the draught of fishes, the haul: bolum emere, Suet. Rhet. 1.
  2. II. Trop., gain, profit, advantage; a haul, winning, piece of fortune, etc.: primumdum merces annua: is primus bolu’st, that’s her first haul, Plaut. Truc. 1, 1, 10: intus bolos dat, id. ib. 4, 2, 12: dabit haec tibi grandis bolos, id. Pers. 4, 4, 106; Lucil. ap. Non. p. 46, 13: magnum bolum deferunt aeris, Varr. R. R. 3, 14, 5; 3, 2, 16.
    Esp.: aliquem tangere bolo, to cozen, wheedle of gain: quia amare cernit, tangere hominem volt bolo, Plaut. Poen. prol. 101; cf.: verum hoc te multabo bolo, id. Truc. 4, 3, 70.
    1. B. A choice bit, nice morsel: cracior bolum mihi tantum ereptum tam desubito e faucibus, Ter. Heaut. 4, 2, 6 Wagn. ad loc.
      (In some or all the passages under II. al. refer the word to Gr. ἡ βῶλος, a clod; cf.: bolus apud Graecos si per o scribitur, signficat jactum retis; si per ω, glaebam terrae, vel frustum cujusque rei, Don. ad Ter. Heaut. 4, 2, 6; cf. Speng. ad Plaut. Truc. 1, 1, 10.
      But bolus is always masc. in Plaut. and Ter., and is scanned bŏlus; v. esp. Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 70; id. Poen. prol. 101).