missĭlis, e, adj. [mitto],
I that may be hurled or cast, that is thrown or hurled, missile (not in Cic. or Caes.): lapides missiles, slingstones , Liv. 1, 43: telum, id. 22, 37: ferro, quod nunc missile libro, a javelin , Verg. A. 10, 421: sagittae, Hor. C. 3, 6, 16: uni sibi missile ferrum, which he alone can launch , Stat. Th. 8, 524: aculei (of the porcupine), capable of being shot forth , Plin. 8, 35, 53, § 125.—
II Subst.
A missĭle , is, n., a missile weapon, missile, a javelin : missilibus Lacedaemonii pugnabant, Liv. 34, 39; in plur.: missilibus lacessere, Verg. A. 10, 716: pellere missilibus, id. ib. 9, 520; 10, 802; in sing., Luc. 7, 485.—
B missĭlĭa , ĭum, n., or res missiles, presents thrown by the emperors among the people : sparsa et populo missilia omnium rerum, Suet. Ner. 11; cf.: jocandi licentia diripiendi pomorum, et obsoniorum rerumque missilium, id. Aug. 98.—*
2 Trop.: ad haec, quae a fortunā sparguntur, sinum expandit et sollicitus missilia ejus exspectat, Sen. Ep. 74, 6.