hydrus

hydrus or -os, i, m., = ὕδρος, a water-serpent, serpent (cf.: chelydrus, chersydrus, anguis, serpens).

I Lit., Plin. 29, 4, 22, § 72; Verg. G. 4, 458; id. A. 7, 753; Ov. M. 13, 804: marini, Plin. 6, 23, 26, § 98. In the hair of the Furies, of Medusa, etc., Verg. A. 7, 447; Val. Fl. 2, 195; Ov. M. 4, 800; hence poet. transf.: nam si Vergilio puer et tolerabile desit Hospitium, caderent omnes a crinibus hydri, i. e. all his poetic fire would have come to naught (referring to his description of the Furies, A. 7, 415 and 447), Juv. 7, 70.—

II Transf.

A The poison of a serpent , Sil. 1, 322.—

B Hydros, i, the constellation of the Waterserpent , called also Anguis and Hydra, German. Arat. 429.