follĭcŭlus, i, m. dim. [follis], a small bag or sack.
I Lit.
A In gen.: folliculis frumentum vehere, Liv. 9, 13, 9: quidam judicatus est parentem occidisse: ei statim ... os obvolutum est folliculo et praeligatum, Cic. Inv. 2, 50, 149.—Of a matricide: statim folliculo lupino os obvolutum est, Auct. Her. 1, 13, 23.—
B Esp. (cf. follis, I. B.), a ball to play with , inflated with air; a wind-ball (cf.: pila, globus, sphaera): post bella civilia ad pilam, folliculumque transiit, Suet. Aug. 83.—
II Transf.
A In gen., a husk , pod , shell , skin , follicle : latentem frugem ruptis velamentis suis, quae folliculos agricolae vocant, adaperire, Sen. Q. N. 5, 18, 3: gluma est grani folliculus, Varr. R. R. 1, 48, 1: cum spica se exserit folliculo, Sen. Ep. 124, 11. —So of fruits, Varr. R. R. 1, 48, 1; Col. 2, 8, 5; Plin. 24, 8, 33, § 49; 24, 9, 40, § 65: folliculus animalium, id. 30, 12, 37, § 111: muliebris, i. q. vulva, acc. to Serv. Verg. G. 3, 136.—Poet., the shell of an egg : teretes (cicadarum), Lucr. 5, 803; and of the human body, as the husk or shell of the soul: ego, si qui sum et quo folliculo sum indutus, queo, Lucil. ap. Non. 110, 27.—
B Esp., as med. t. t. (late Lat.).
1 A sac : ventris, Cael. Aur. Acut. 3, 17, 154.—
2 The bladder , Cael. Aur. Tard. 4, 3, 24.—
3 The scrotum , Cael. Aur. Acut. 3, 17, 165; id. Tard. 3, 8, 106; called in full, folliculum genitale, id. ib. 3, 8, 104.