prŏcella, ae, f [pro and root kel; Gr. κέλης, runner; cf.: celer, celox], a violent wind (by which things are prostrated), a storm, hurricane, tempest (class.).
I Lit.: procella distat latitudine a vortice et a turbine disjectā nube verius quam ruptā, Plin. 2, 49, 50, § 133: turbinis inmanem vim provomit atque procellae, Lucr. 6, 447: imbres, nimbi, procellae, turbines, Cic. N. D. 3, 20, 51; Plaut. Trin. 4, 1, 17: creber procellis Africus, Verg. A. 1, 85: stridens Aquilone procella, id. ib. 1, 102: si mugiat Africis Malus procellis, Hor. C. 3, 29, 58; 2, 9, 3: praecipites, Ov. Tr. 4, 6, 35: navis quassata procellā, id. ib. 5, 5, 17: raperent mea poma procellae, id. Nux, 163: procella nivem effuderat, Curt. 3, 13, 7: imbrem excusserant procellae, id. 4, 7, 14: Thalle, turbidā rapacior procellā, Cat. 25, 4.—With gen.: validi venti collecta procella, Lucr. 6, 124.—
II Transf.
A (Mostly in plur.) A storm , tumult , violence , commotion , vehemence : tempestates et procellas in illis fluctibus concionum, Cic. Mil. 2, 5 (also cited ap. Quint. 8, 6, 48, and particularly mentioned as a figure, id. 8, 6, 48, § 7): vita tranquilla et quieta remota a procellis invidiarum, Cic. Clu. 56, 153: ut procellam temporis devitaret, id. Verr. 1, 3, 8: patriae, id. Dom. 53, 137: agitari tribuniciis procellis, Liv. 2, 1; cf.: seditionum procellae, id. 28, 25: procellae civiles, civil commotions , Nep. Att. 10, 6; cf.: ferimur procellā, Verg. A. 7, 594; Ov. M. 13, 656.—
B In milit. lang.
1 A charge , onset , sudden attack of cavalry: hac velut procellā ita consternavit equos, ut, etc., Liv. 37, 41 fin. : equestrem procellam excitemus oportet, id. 30, 18: equestris, id. 29, 2; Tac. H. 3, 53.—
2 In gen., of a fierce battle : hic secunda belli Punici procella desaevit, Flor. 2, 6, 12; Luc. 8, 203.—
3 Of a storm of eloquence: priusquam illam eloquentiae procellam effunderet (Ulixes), Quint. 11, 3, 158: contionum, id. 8, 6, 7.