† chĕlys, acc. chelyn, voc. chely (other cases apparently not in use), f., = χέλυς.
- I. The tortoise, Petr. Fragm. 32, 5.
- II. As in Greek (cf. Lidd. and Scott in h. v.), a lyre or harp made of its shell, pure Lat. testudo (except Ovid, in post-Aug. poets only; most freq. in Statius): chelys, Stat. S. 1, 5, 1; 4, 4, 33; Claud. III. Cons. Hon. praef. 18; id. Cons. Mall. Theod. 313; id. IV. Cons. Hon. 123; Prud. Apoth. 455: chelyn, Ov. H. 15, 181; Stat. S. 1, 5, 11; 2, 2, 120; 4, 6, 30; 4, 8, 38; id. Th. 6, 366; Sen. Troad. 325; id. Herc. Oet. 1034; Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, praef. 8: chely, Stat. S. 4, 3, 119.
- B. The constellation Lyra, Avien. Arat. 617 and 631.