† fūcus, i, m., = φῦκος,
I rock-lichen , orchil , used as a red dye for woollen goods, Lichen roccella, Linn., Plin. 26, 10, 66, § 103 sq.: ut lana tincta fuco citra purpuras placet, Quint. 12, 10, 75.—
II Transf., red or purple color.
A In gen.: infici vestes scimus admirabili fuco, Plin. 22, 2, 3, § 3; Hor. C. 3, 5, 28; id. Ep. 1, 10, 27 Orell. ad loc.; Ov. M. 6, 222 al.—
B In partic.
1 Rouge , paint for the complexion : vetulae, quae vitia corporis fuco occulunt, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 118: si caeruleo quaedam sua tempora fuco tinxerit, Prop. 2, 18, 31 (3, 11, 10 M.): mangones colorem fuco, et rerum robur inani sagina mentiantur, Quint. 2, 15, 25.—
2 Dross , alloy , adulteration : adulteratur (sal) rubrica aut testa trita, qui fucus aqua deprehenditur diluente, Plin. 31, 7, 42, § 91.—
3 For propolis (q. v.), the reddish juice with which bees stop up the entrances to their hive , bee-glue , Verg. G. 4, 39. —
III Trop., pretence , disguise , deceit , dissimulation : his tribus figuris insidere quidam venustatis non fuco illitus, sed sanguine diffusus debet color, Cic. de Or. 3, 52, 199; cf.: sententiae tam verae, tam novae, tam sine pigmentis fucoque puerili, id. ib. 2, 45, 188: fuco ementitus color, Quint. 8, 3, 6: in oratoris aut in poëtae cincinnis ac fuco, Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 100: mercem sine fucis gestat, Hor. S. 1, 2, 83: nec sycophantiis nec fucis ullum mantellum obviam est, Plaut. Capt. 3, 3, 6: sine fuco ac fallaciis, Cic. Att. 1, 1, 1: deum sese in hominem convertisse ... fucum factum mulieri, i. e. to deceive , impose upon (vulg.), Ter. Eun. 589: si eum, qui tibi promiserit, audieris fucum, ut dicitur, facere velle aut senseris, Q. Cic. Petit. Cons. 9, 35.