nassa or naxa, ae, f. [no], a wickerbasket with a narrow neck, for catching fish, a weel.
I Lit.: nassa est piscatorii vasi genus, quo, cum intravit piscis, exire non potest, Paul. ex Fest. p. 169 Müll.; Sil. 5, 47; Plin. 9, 37, 61, § 132: junci usus ad nassas marinas, id. 21, 18, 59, § 114: scarus inclusus nassis, id. 32, 2, 5, § 11: instrumento piscatoris legato, et retia et nassae ... debentur. Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 66.—
II Trop., of a dangerous place, a snare, net : numquam ex istā nassā escam petam, Plaut. Mil. 2, 6, 98: ex hac naxā exire constitui, non ad fugam, sed ad spem mortis melioris, Cic. Att. 15, 20, 2: inclusus carcere nassae (aeger), Juv. 12, 123.