ăsellus, i, m. dim. [asinus], a little ass, an ass's colt.
I Lit.: dossuarius, Varr. R. R. 2, 6 fin. : asellus onustus auro, * Cic. Att. 1, 16: tardus, Verg. G. 1, 273: lente gradiens, Ov. M. 11, 179; so id. ib. 4, 27; Hor. S. 1, 9, 20; Vulg. Num. 16, 15; ib. Joan. 12, 14 al.—Prov.: narrare fabellam surdo asello, to preach to deaf ears , Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 199 (an imitation of a Greek proverb, Ὄνῳ τις ἔλεγε μῦθον · ὁ δὲ τὰ ὦτα ἐκίνει; cf. Schmid ad Hor. l. c.).—
II Transf.
A Of a man addicted to sensuality, Juv. 9, 92; Petr. 24 fin. ; Hier. Vit. S. Hilar.—
B Aselli, two stars in Cancer : Sunt in signo Cancri duae stellae parvae, Aselli appellati, Plin. 18, 35, 80, § 353; cf. Hyg. Astr. 2, 23.—
C A sea-fish much prized by the Romans , perh. cod or haddock , Varr. L. L. 5, § 77, p. 31 Müll.; cf. Plin. 9, 17, 28, § 61.—Prov.: post asellum diaria non sumo, after delicious fare I take no common food , Petr. 24.—
D Asellus, a Roman cognomen , Cic. de Or. 2, 64, 258; Liv. 27, 41 al.