bŏlus, i, m., = βόλος, a throw or cast (ante- and post-class.; cf. jactus).
I Lit.
A Of dice in gaming, a throw : si vis tribus bolis... Th. Quin tu in malam crucem cum bolis, cum bulbis, Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 13: nimis lepide jecisti bolum, id. Rud. 2, 2, 30: enumerare bolos, Aus. Prof. 1, 26.—
B A cast of the net in fishing; and meton., the cast , i. e. the draught of fishes, the haul : bolum emere, Suet. Rhet. 1.—
II Trop., gain , profit , advantage; a haul , winning , piece of fortune , etc.: primumdum merces annua: is primus bolu'st, that’s her first haul , Plaut. Truc. 1, 1, 10: intus bolos dat, id. ib. 4, 2, 12: dabit haec tibi grandis bolos, id. Pers. 4, 4, 106; Lucil. ap. Non. p. 46, 13: magnum bolum deferunt aeris, Varr. R. R. 3, 14, 5; 3, 2, 16.—Esp.: aliquem tangere bolo, to cozen , wheedle of gain : quia amare cernit, tangere hominem volt bolo, Plaut. Poen. prol. 101; cf.: verum hoc te multabo bolo, id. Truc. 4, 3, 70.—
B A choice bit , nice morsel : cracior bolum mihi tantum ereptum tam desubito e faucibus, Ter. Heaut. 673 Wagn. ad loc.—(In some or all the passages under II. al. refer the word to Gr. ἡ βῶλος, a clod; cf.: bolus apud Graecos si per o scribitur, significat jactum retis; si per ω, glaebam terrae, vel frustum cujusque rei, Don. ad Ter. Heaut. 673; cf. Speng. ad Plaut. Truc. 1, 1, 10.— But bolus is always masc. in Plaut. and Ter., and is scanned bŏlus; v. esp. Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 70; id. Poen. prol. 101).