pŭtĕus, i, m. (neutr. collat. form of the plur. pŭtĕa, ōrum, Varr. ap. Non. 217, 4) [root pu-, to cleanse; whence also purus, putus, purgo],
I a well : puteum fodere, Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 32: ex puteis jugibus aquam calidam trahi, Cic. N. D. 2, 9, 25; id. Div. 1, 50, 112: virgines se in puteos abjecisse, id. Prov. Cons. 3, 6; Plin. 9, 25, 41, § 80; 37, 9, 43, § 127; Plin. Ep. 2, 17, 25; 5, 6, 25: putei perennes, Hor. Ep. 1, 15, 15: puteum vitare patentem, id. ib. 2, 2, 135 et saep. —Of a cistern , Auct. B. Alex. 5 fin. —Prov.: in puteum conicere, to throw away , Petr. 42.—
II Transf., a pit , Verg. G. 2, 231; for storing grain in, Varr. R. R. 1, 57, 2; in mines, a pit , shaft , Plin. 33, 4, 21, § 68; 33, 6, 31, § 95; an air-shaft , air-hole , Vitr. 8, 6; a dungeon for slaves, Plaut. Aul. 2, 5, 21; 2, 7, 3; Col. 1, 6.