frŭtex — Lewis & Short
frŭtex, ĭcis, m. (
I fem.:
Nilotica,Mart. Cap. 3, § 225) [prob. kindr. with bru/w, to sprout forth], a shrub, bush (cf. arbor).
I Lit.: ex surculo vel arbor procedit, ut olea, ficus, pirus; vel frutex, ut violae, rosae, arundines;
vel tertium quiddam, quod neque arborem neque fruticem proprie dixerimus, sicuti est vitis,Col. Arb. 1, 2; Col. 8, 15, 5; Plin. 16, 36, 64, § 156; Ov. A. A. 3, 249; Petr. 135:
numerosus,Plin. 18, 24, 55, § 199:
olerum,Col. 11, 3, 63:
lupini,id. 2, 14, 5:
sucus fruticis recentis,Plin. 23, 3, 35, § 71:
frutices inter membra condebant,Lucr. 5, 956:
his genus omne silvarum fruticumque viret,Verg. G. 2, 21:
in montuosis locis et fruticibus,Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 16; collect. in the sing.:
venari asello comite cum vellet leo, Contexit illum frutice,Phaedr. 1, 11, 4.—
II Transf.
A Perh., the lower part of the stem of a tree, the trunk:
quercus antiqua singulos repente ramos a frutice dedit,Suet. Vesp. 5 (al. radice).—
B As a term of reproach, like caudex, stipes, blockhead:
nec veri simile loquere nec verum, frutex,Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 13 Lorenz (Ritschl, rupex); App. Mag. p. 317; v. Oud. ad h. l.