brūma, ae, f. [for brevima, breuma = brevissima: dicta bruma quod brevissimus tunc dies est, Varr. L. L. 6, § 8 Müll.: bruma a brevitate dierum dicta, Paul. ex Fest. p. 31 Müll.; cf. Isid. Orig. 5, 35, 6; Gesn. Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, 106; Ruhnk. ad Ter. Phorm. 709].
I Lit., the shortest day in the year , the winter solstice , * Lucr. 5, 746; Varr. L. L. l. l.; Ter. Phorm. 709: circa brumam serendum non esse, Plin. 18, 24, 56, § 204 al.— Plur. : solis accessus discessusque solstitiis brumisque cognosci, Cic. N. D. 2, 7, 19; 2, 19, 50; Ov. F. 1, 163.—
II Transf.
A In gen., the winter time , winter (mostly poet.): musculorum jecuscula brumā dicuntur augeri, Cic. Div. 2, 14, 33: novissimus dies brumae, Plin. 16, 39, 74, § 191: ver proterit aestas, Interitura, simul Pomifer auctumnus fruges effuderit, et mox Bruma recurrit iners, Hor. C. 4, 7, 12; Phaedr. 4, 23, 19: serite hordea campis Usque sub extremum brumae intractabilis imbrem, even to the last rain of rough winter , Verg. G. 1, 211; 3, 321.—So, horrida cano gelu, Verg. G. 3, 443: frigida, id. A. 2, 472: hiberna, Tib. 1, 4, 5; Ov. Ib. 37; Prop. 1, 8, 9: tepidae, Hor. C. 2, 6, 18: nives illinet agris, id. Ep. 1, 7, 10: per brumam, id. ib. 1, 11, 19: brumae tempore, Juv. 3, 102; Val. Fl. 5, 602; Stat. S. 1, 3, 89 al.—
B In the most gen. sense (pars pro toto), poet., a year; plur. , Manil. 3, 607; Mart. 4, 40, 5; 10, 104, 9.