Lewis & Short

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† 1. uncus, i, m. [Sanscr. root ak, ankami, bend; Gr. ἀγκών, ὄγκος; cf.: ancus, ungulus], a hook, barb.

  1. I. In gen., Liv. 30, 10, 16; Col. 3, 18, 2: ferrei, Cato, R. R. 10; 13.
    As an attribute of Necessitas, Hor. C. 1, 35, 20.
    Poet., an anchor, Val. Fl. 2, 428.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. A hook that was fastened to the neck of condemned criminals, and by which they were dragged to the Tiber, Cic. Phil. 1, 2, 5; id. rab. Perd. 5, 16; Ov. Ib. 168; Juv. 10, 66; cf.: et bene cum fixum mento discusseris uncum, Nil erit hoc: rostro te premet ansa suo, Prop. 4 (5), 1, 141.
    2. B. A surgical instrument, Cels. 7, 29.

2. uncus, a, um, adj. [1. uncus],

  1. I. hooked, bent in, crooked, curved, barbed (poet. and in post-Aug. prose; syn.: curvus, recurvus): uncus hamus, Ov. M. 15, 476; also called unca aera, id. P. 2, 7, 10: cornua (tauri), Prop. 2, 5, 19: aratrum, Verg. G. 1, 19; Ov. M. 5, 341; 7, 210; cf.: vomer aratri, Lucr. 1, 313; also called dens, Verg. G. 2, 423: pedes (harpyiae), id. A. 3, 233: ungues, Lucr. 5, 1322: manus, Verg. G. 2, 365: digiti, Col. 7, 11, 2: cauda, Ov. M. 15, 371: labrum, Lucr. 4, 588; 5, 1407.
  2. II. Transf.: unco non alligat ancora morsu, Verg. A. 1, 169: avis Minervae, i. e. with crooked beak and talons, Stat. Th. 3, 507; cf. alites, id. ib. 12, 212.