in-cūnābŭla, ōrum, n., swaddlingclothes, swathing-bands.
I Lit.: fasciis opus est, pulvinis, cunis, incunabulis, Plaut. Truc. 5, 13; id. Am. 5, 1, 52.—
B Transf.
1 The cradle : Bacchi, Ov. M. 3, 317.—
2 A birthplace : in montes patrios, et ad incunabula nostra pergam, Poët. (perh. Enn.) ap. Cic. Att. 2, 15, 3 (v. Vahl. Enn. p. 81): Jovis, Ov. M. 8, 99: majorum, Just. 31, 8, 4.—
3 Childhood : jam inde ab incunabulis imbutus odio tribunorum, from the cradle , from childhood , Liv. 4, 36 fin. ; so, ab primis, Amm. 14, 6, 4; and: in primis vitae incunabulis, Firm. 1, 3.—
II Trop., an origin , beginning : de oratoris quasi incunabulis dicere, Cic. Or. 13, 42: nostrae doctrinae, id. de Or. 1, 6, 23: ab ipsis discendi velut incunabulis, Quint. prooem. 6 Zumpt N. cr.