mascŭlus, a, um, adj. dim. [mas], male, masculine; subst., a male (not in Cic. or Caes.).
I Lit.: bona femina, et malus masculus, Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 39: incertus infans natus masculus an femina esset, Liv. 31, 12: genus, Phaedr. 4, 14, 15: genus masculum femininumve, Plin. 10, 68, 87, § 189: tura, Verg. E. 8, 65; Ov. Med. fac. 94; Plin. 12, 14, 32, § 61: dare mascula nomina rebus, Mart. 11, 43, 11: libido, i. e. tribadum, Hor. Epod. 5, 41.—
II Transf.
A Of things: cardo, which is inserted into another (opp. cardo femina, into which another is inserted), Vitr. 9, 9 med. ; v. cardo; of gems, Plin. 37, 7, 25, § 92.—
B Worthy of or befitting a man, manly, vigorous, bold : proles, Hor. C. 3, 6, 37: Sappho, id. Ep. 1, 19, 28: animus, Ap. Met. 6, 26, 27; ingenium, id. ib. 7, 6, 14; indicium masculi et incorrupti viri, Quint. 5, 12, 20; v. masculinus.