pecto, pexi (pexui, Alcim. Ep. 77), pexum and pectĭtum, 3, v. a. [Gr. πέκω, πεκτέω, to comb, shear; πόκος, fleece; Lat. pecten], to comb.
I Lit.: tenues comas, Tib. 1, 9, 68: longas comas, id. 2, 5, 8: caesariem, Hor. C. 1, 15, 14: capillos, Ov. H. 13, 31; cf.: pexisti capillum, Maec. ap. Prisc. p. 903 P: barbam, Juv. 14, 216: pectebat ferum (cervum), Verg. A. 7, 489: capilli pexi, Juv. 11, 150: pexa barba, Mart. 7, 58, 2: ille pexus pinguisque doctor, Quint. 1, 5, 14.—In a Greek construction: ipsa comas pectar, Ov. H. 13, 39.—
II Transf.
A To comb , card , heckle : stuppa pectitur ferreis hamis, Plin. 19, 1, 3, § 17: pectitae lanae, Col. 12, 3, 6.—
B To dress , hoe , weed , Col. 10, 148: pectita tellus, id. 10, 94.—Hence,
III Trop., comic.: aliquem fusti or pugnis, to give one a dressing or thrashing : leno pugnis pectitur, Plaut. Rud. 3, 2, 47: pugnis, id. Men. 5, 7, 28: aliquem fusti, id. Capt. 4, 2, 116.
VI —Hence, pexus (as a surname, written PEXSVS, PEXSA, Inscr. Grut. 487, 1; Marin. Iscriz. Alb. p. 91), a, um, P. a., woolly , that still has the nap on , new : tunica, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 95: vestes, Plin. 8, 48, 73, § 191.—Hence: pexa munera, prob. a new woolly toga , Mart. 7, 46, 6.—
B Transf.: folium, woolly , Col. 11, 3, 26.