Lewis & Short

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† būcĭna (not buccĭna), ae, f., = βυκάνη, a crooked horn or trumpet (while tuba is usually the straight trumpet; cf. Veg. Mil. 3, 3, 5 Stewech.).

  1. I. Lit., a shepherd’s horn, Varr. R. R. 2, 4, 20: bucina inflata, id. ib. 3, 13, 1; Col. 6, 23, 3; Prop. 4 (5), 10, 29.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. A war-trumpet: bello dat signum rauca cruentum Bucina, Verg. A. 11, 475: quā bucina signum Dira dedit, id. ib. 7, 519.
      In gen., as a signal employed in changing the four night-watches, and for waking the soldiers (cf. Dict. of Antiq.): te gallorum, illum bucinarum cantus exsuscitat, Cic. Mur. 9, 22: ubi secundae vigiliae bucinā datum signum esset, Liv. 7, 35, 1; Prop. 4 (5), 4, 63; Sil. 7, 154.
      1. 2. Hence, meton.: ad primam, secundam, etc., bucinam (for vigiliam), at the first, second, etc., watch: ut ad tertiam bucinam praesto essent, Liv. 26, 15, 6.
        It was also blown at the end of the evening meal, Tac. A. 15, 30 Nipp. ad loc.
    2. B. In other spheres of life; so for calling assemblies of the people: bucina datur: homines ex agris concurrunt, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 96: bucina cogebat priscos ad verba Quirites, Prop. 4 (5), 1, 13; Curt. 3, 3, 8.
      For designating the hours of the day (which were divided into four parts), Sen. Thyest. 799; cf. bucino.
    3. C. Poet., a kind of circular, winding shell on which Triton blew, Triton’s shell, Ov. M. 1, 335 and 337; cf. bucinator.
    4. D. Trop.: foedae bucina famae, the trump of ill fame, Juv. 14, 152; cf. bucinator, II.