ĕquus, i (gen. plur. equūm, Verg. G. 2, 542; Stat. Th. 4, 409 al.), m. [Sanscr. acvas; Gr. ἵππος (ἴκκος); cf. Epŏna; root, ak-, to be sharp or swift; cf. Gr. ἄκρος, ὠκύς; Lat. acus, ocior], a horse, steed, charger.
I Prop.
A In gen. (cf.: caballus, canterius, mannus), Varr. R. R. 2, 7; Col. 6, 27 sq.; Plin. 8, 42, 64, § 154 sq.; Pall. Mart. 13; Enn. ap. Cic. de Sen. 5, 14 (Ann. v. 441 ed. Vahlen); Plaut. Bacch. 1, 1, 39; id. Men. 5, 2, 109; Cic. Rep. 1, 43; 1, 7, 9 et saep.: equus = equa, Varr. R. R. 2, 7, 11.—Offered as a sacrifice to Mars, Paul. ex Fest. p. 81, 16, and p. 178, 24 sq. Müll.; cf. Prop. 4 (5), 1, 20; and v. October: EQVO PVBLICO ORNATVS, EXORNATVS, HONORATVS, etc.; or, ellipt., EQVO PVBLICO, very often in inscriptions; v. Inscr. Momms. 73; 459; 445; 1952; 2456; 2865 al.—In another sense: equi publici, post-horses, Amm. 14, 6.—Equo vehi, advehi, ire, desilire, equum conscendere, flectere, in equum ascendere, equo citato, concitato, etc., see under these verbs.—
B In partic.
1 Of cavalry, in the phrase, equis virisque (viri = pedites; cf. eques and vir), adverb., with horse and foot , i. e. with might and main , with tooth and nail , Liv. 5, 37; Flor. 2, 7, 8; also: equis, viris, Cic. Phil. 8, 7, 21; id. Fam. 9, 7; cf. Nep. Hamilc. 4; and in the order, viris equisque, Cic. Off. 3, 33.—
2 Transf., of race-horses: ego cursu corrigam tarditatem tum equis, tum vero, quoniam scribis poëma ab eo nostrum probari, quadrigis poeticis, i. e. in prose and poetry , Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 15, a (see the passage in connection).—
C Transf.
1 In plur. (like ἵπποι in Homer), a chariot , Verg. A. 9, 777.—
2 The wind, Cat. 66, 54; Val. Fl. 1, 611.—
3 In mal. part., Hor. S. 2, 7, 50; Petr. 24, 4; Ap. Met. 2, p. 122 (not found); Mart. 11, 104, 14.—
D Prov.: equi donati dentes non inspiciuntur, we don't look a gift horse in the mouth , Hier. Ep. ad Ephes. prooem.—
II Meton.
A Equus bipes, a sea-horse , Verg. G. 4, 389; Auct. Pervig. Ven. 10: fluviatilis, a river-horse , hippopotamus , Plin. 8, 21, 30, § 73.—
B Equus ligneus, like the Homeric ἁλὸς ἵππος, a ship , Plaut. Rud. 1, 5, 10.—
C The Trojan horse , Verg. A. 2, 112 sq.; Hyg. Fab. 108; Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 12; Prop. 3 (4), 1, 25; Hor. C. 4, 6, 13 al.— *
2 Trop., of a secret conspiracy , Cic. Mur. 37, 78.—
D A battering-ram , because shaped like a horse; afterwards called aries, Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 202.—
E The constellation Pegasus , Cic. N. D. 2, 43, 111 sq.; Col. 11, 2, 31; Hyg. Astr. 2, 18; 3, 17.—
F Equus Trojanus, the title of a play of Livius Andronicus , Cic. Fam. 7, 1, 2 al.