mĕl, mellis (abl. sing. melli, Plaut. Truc. 2, 4, 20.—Gen. and dat. plur. obsol. acc. to Prisc. p. 744 P.), n. [Gr. μέλι, honey; μέλισσα, bee; cf. mulsus], honey.
I Lit.: hoc est melli dulci dulcius, Plaut. Truc. 2, 4, 20 (Spengel, dulce): villa abundat lacte, caseo, melle, Cic. Sen. 16, 56; cf. Plin. 11, 14, 14, § 33: roscida mella, Verg. E. 4, 30: mellis vindemia, Col. 9, 15, 1.—
II Trop., honey for sweetness, pleasantness : poëtica mella, Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 44: hoc juvat et melli est, is pleasant , id. S. 2, 6, 32.—Of sweetness, pleasantness of speech: Nestoreum mel, Auct. Pan. ad Pison. 64: Homerici senis mella, Plin. Ep. 4, 3, 3.— Prov.: quia te tango, mel mihi videor lingere, it seems to me as sweet as honey , Plaut. Cas. 2, 8, 21: mella petere in medio flumine, of a vain search , Ov. A. A. 1, 748. —As a term of endearment, darling, sweet, honey : meum mel, meum cor, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 157; 173; id. Curc. 1, 3, 8; id. Trin. 2, 1, 18: Sempronium, mel ac delicias tuas, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 1.