pēnĭcŭlus, i, m. dim. [penis], lit., a little tail; hence,
I A brush for removing dust (for which ox-tails and horse-tails were used): (a pene) peniculi, quis calciamenta tergentur, quod e codis extremis faciebant antiqui, etc., Fest. p. 230 Müll.: juventus nomen fecit Peniculo mihi, ideo quia mensam, quando edo, detergeo, Plaut. Men. 1, 1, 1; cf.: Quis iste'st Peniculus? Qui extergentur baxeae? id. ib. 2, 3, 40.—
II A sponge : ut peniculus novos exurgeri solet, Plaut. Rud. 4, 3, 69; Ter. Eun. 777; Amm. 15, 5, 4; cf.: peniculi spongiae longae propter similitudinem caudarum appellatae, Paul. ex Fest. p. 208 Müll. —
III A painter's brush or pencil , Dig. 33, 7, 17.—
IV Perh., in an ambiguous sense, = membrum virile, Plaut. Men. 2, 2, 12.