nĕpa, ae, f. [acc. to Paul. ex Fest. p. 164 and 165 Müll., an African word: Afrorum linguā est animal venenatum, caudā feriens, alio nomine scorpius, etc., Fest. l. l.].
I A scorpion , Cic. Fin. 5, 15, 42 Madv. ad loc.—
B Nepa, a constellation, the Scorpion : Capra aut Nepa, Enn. ap. Cic. Rep. 1, 18, 30 (Trag. v. 276 Vahl.): pectus Nepai, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 42, 109; Col. 10, 56.—Collat. form, nĕpas , ae, m., Col. 11, 2, 39.—
II Transf., a crab : recessim cedam ad parietem imitabor nepam, Plaut. Cas. 2, 8, 7; Ser. Samm. 13, 199.