Lewis & Short

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saeta (sēta), ae, f. [etym. dub.].

  1. I. Prop., a thick, stiff hair on an animal; a bristle (class.; usu. in plur.; cf. villus, pilus).
    1. A. Plur.
      1. 1. Absol., Lucr. 5, 786; of a boar, Ov. M. 8, 428; cf. 2, B. infra; of a porcupine, Claud. Hystr. 6; of the fish aper, Ov. Hal. 59; of a goat, Verg. G. 3, 312; of a cow, id. A. 7, 790; of a horse, Amm. 29, 2, 4; Val. Fl. 6, 71: ita quasi saetis labra mihi compungit barba, Plaut. Cas. 5, 2, 48.
      2. 2. With gen.: saetae leonis, Prop. 4, 9, 44.
    2. B. Sing.: saeta equina, Cic. Tusc. 5, 21, 62: nigrae saetae grex (suum), Col. 7, 9, 2; cf. Verg. A. 7, 667.
  2. II. Meton.
    1. A. Of stiff, bristly, human hair, Verg. A. 8, 266; id. G. 3, 312; Ov. M. 13, 850; Juv. 2, 11; Mart. 6, 56.
    2. B. Of the spiny leaves of coniferous trees, Plin. 16, 10, 18, § 41.
    3. C. Of any thing made of coarse hair or bristles, e. g. the bottom or leader of an angling-line, Ov. Hal. 34: piscem tremulā salientem ducere saetā, Mart. 1, 56, 9; so, id. 10, 30, 16.
    4. D. A brush made from bristles: parieti siccato cera Punica cum oleo liquefacta candens saetis inducatur, Plin. 33, 7, 40, § 122; cf. Vitr. 7, 9, 3.