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fauces, ium (sing. nom. faux only in Cael. Aur. Tard. 2, 11, 127, = arteria aspera; cf. Varr. L. L. 10, § 78 Müll.; Charis. p. 72 P.
The abl. sing. fauce sometimes in poets: Ov. H. 9, 98; id. M. 14, 738; Hor. Epod. 14, 4; Phaedr. 1, 1, 3; 1, 8, 4; Mart. 7, 37, 6 al.), f. [cf. Sanscr. bhūka, hole, opening], the upper part of the throat, from the root of the tongue to the entrance of the gullet, the pharynx, throat, gullet (syn.: gula, guttur, jugulum).

  1. I. Lit.: summum gulae fauces vocantur, extremum stomachus; quibus fauces non sunt, ne stomachus quidem est, Plin. 11, 37, 68, § 179: exigua in arteria sub ipsis faucibus lingula est, quae, cum spiramus, attollitur, Cels. 4, 1: (galli) favent faucibus russis cantu, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 2, 26, 57 (Trag. v. 250 ed. Vahl.): sitis fauces tenet, Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 34: sitis fauces urit, Hor. S. 1, 2, 214: lippiunt fauces fame, Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 39; 1, 2, 36: fauces tussientes, Cels. 5, 25, 11: nuces videntur fauces exasperare, Plin. 23, 8, 74, § 142: fauces tumentes strangulant vocem, etc., Quint. 11, 3, 20: infirmatis faucibus, praeconis voce concionatus est, Suet. Aug. 84 fin.: propino tibi salutem plenis faucibus, Plaut. Stich. 3, 2, 16: merum ingurgitare faucibus plenis, id. Curc. 1, 2, 39: exscrea usque ex penitis faucibus, from the bottom of your throat, id. As. 1, 1, 28: alicui fauces prehendere, id. Most. 1, 3, 62; cf.: qui sacerdoti scelestus fauces interpresserit, id. Rud. 3, 2, 41: laqueo innectere fauces, to strangle, Ov. M. 10, 378; cf. also: ad necem secandasque novacula fauces, Suet. Calig. 23: fauces manu sua oppressit, id. ib. 12: retinens singulos et contortis faucibus convertens, id. Caes. 62.
    Trop.: faucibus teneor, I am caught by the throat, I feel the knife at my throat, Plaut. Cas. 5, 3, 4; cf.: cum faucibus premeretur, Cic. Clu. 31, 84: Timarchides premit fauces defensionis tuae, id. Verr. 2, 3, 76, § 176: eripite nos ex faucibus eorum, quorum crudelitas, etc., from the jaws, Crass. ap. Cic. de Or. 1, 52, 225; cf. Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 6, § 19: urbem totius belli ore ac faucibus ereptam esse, id. Arch. 9, 21: e mediis Orci faucibus ad hunc evasi modum, App. M. 7, p. 191: cum inexplebiles populi fauces exaruerunt libertatis siti, Cic. Rep. 1, 43: lupus fauce improba incitatus, i. e. voracity, Phaedr. 1, 2, 3.
  2. II. Transf., of places:
    1. A. A narrow way, narrow inlet or outlet, an entrance, defile, pass (cf. angustiae): Corinthus posita in angustiis atque in faucibus Graeciae, in the mouth or entrance, Cic. Agr. 2, 32, 87: in Ciliciae angustissimis faucibus, Curt. 7, 4; cf.: qua fauces erant angustissimae portus, Caes. B. C. 1, 25, 5: portus, id. ib. 3, 24, 1; 3, 39, 2: Masinissam persecutus in valle arta, faucibus utrimque obsessis, inclusit, Liv. 29, 32, 4: Aemilius sedens in faucibus macelli, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 62, § 145; so, macelli, id. Quint. 6, 25: per fauces montis ut Aetnae Exspirent ignes, the crater, Lucr. 6, 630: cava flumina siccis faucibus, etc., Verg. G. 4, 428: altae montis, Lucr. 6, 697: Nilus multis faucibus in Aegyptium mare se evomit, through many mouths, Plin. 5, 9, 10, § 54: Bospori, the Dardanelles, id. 6, 1, 1, § 4; Sil. 12, 127: cum fornacem facies, fauces praecipites deorsum facito, Cato, R. R. 38, 3: pictis e faucibus currus emittere, from the barriers, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 89 ed. Vahl.).
    2. B. The jaws of the earth, gulf, abyss: patefactis terrae faucibus, Cic. N. D. 2, 37, 95.