Lewis & Short

cŏlus (i and), ūs (cf. Prisc. pp. 654 and 719 P.; Rudd. 1, p. 166, n. 100), f. (m., Cat. 64, 311; Prop. 4, 1, 72; 4, 9, 48) [root prob. kar-, to be bent or round; cf.: corona, curvus, collum],

  1. I. a distaff; sing. nom. colus, Tib. 2, 1, 63; Ov. M. 4, 229; Plin. 8, 48, 74, § 194; Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 594; gen. colus, Val. Fl. 2, 148; acc. colum, * Cat. 64, 312; Ov. H. 9, 116; abl. colo, Tib. 1, 3, 86; Prop. 4 (5), 1, 72; Verg. A. 8, 409 (quoted by Prisc. p. 719 P.); Ov. Am. 2, 6, 46; id. A. A. 1, 702; App. de Mundo, p. 755: colu, Opimius ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 68, 277; Stat. Th. 6, 380 (quoted by Prisc. p. 719); Plin. 8, 48, 74, § 194; 21, 15, 53, § 90; and varying between colo and colu, Prop. 4 (5), 9, 48 (Kuin., Lachm., and Jacob., colu); plur. nom. colus, Stat. Th. 3, 242; 9, 839; acc. colos, Ov. F. 3, 818; Mart. 7, 47; 9, 18; Stat. S. 1, 4, 64; 3, 1, 172 (Bip. colus); id. Th. 5, 150; id. Achill. 1, 582; 1, 635; Claud. ap. Eutr. 2, 389; id. Idyll. 49, 87; Sen. Herc. Fur. 559; id. Herc. Oet. 668: colus, Val. Fl. 6, 445; 6, 645; Stat. Th. 10, 649 (varying, Juv. 14, 249; Ruperti, colus).
    As an attribute of the Parcae, Ov. Am. 2, 6, 46; Stat. Th. 3, 242; 6, 380; Sen. Herc. Fur. 559.
  2. * II. Meton. for the thread spun, Sen. Herc. Oet. 668.